Cardiac Auscultation Can Be Taught Better: New Auditory Training Program Teaches Students to Distinguish Innocent and Pathological Murmurs with 90% Accuracy

Authors

  • John P. Finley Department of Pediatrics Dalhousie University
  • Rachel Caissie School of Human Communications Disorders Dalhousie University
  • Pamela Nicol School of Paediatrics and Child Health University of Western Australia
  • Brian Hoyt Department of Physiology and Biophysics Dalhousie University
  • Darlene MacAulay Department of Pediatrics Dalhousie University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15273/dmj.Vol39No2.3737

Abstract

Auscultation of the heart is one of the basic skills of physical examination. Despite the capabilities of technology in assessing the heart, initial assessment still begins with auscultation to distinguish normal from abnormal and decide whether imaging or other tests are appropriate. This article reviews evidence that current performance and teaching of this skill is of a poor standard. Newer more effective teaching methods are outlined including auditory training, which has been studied at Dalhousie with encouraging results. Students and teachers should take
advantage of improved teaching methods and resources to achieve better auscultation performance.

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Published

2013-11-06

How to Cite

Finley, J. P., Caissie, R., Nicol, P., Hoyt, B., & MacAulay, D. (2013). Cardiac Auscultation Can Be Taught Better: New Auditory Training Program Teaches Students to Distinguish Innocent and Pathological Murmurs with 90% Accuracy. DALHOUSIE MEDICAL JOURNAL, 39(2). https://doi.org/10.15273/dmj.Vol39No2.3737

Issue

Vol. 39 No. 2 (2013)

Section

Research

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