A comparison of computer-assisted instruction and small-group teaching of cardiac auscultation to medical students

Abstract

Cardiac auscultation is suffering from declining interest, caused by competing diagnostic technology and inadequate training of doctors. Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) supporting graphics and digitized sound could be ideally suited for teaching and sharpening this skill. To evaluate this premise we randomized 35 third-year medical students to 3 hours of seminar teaching plus the use of audiotapes (group 1), the self-use of a MacIntosh-based CAI (group 2), or both (group 3). All students took a pre- and post-test consisting of eight pre-recorded cardiac events and were also assessed for computer anxiety. Although there were no significant differences between pre- and post-tests for each group and among groups, group 1 had a 4.5% deterioration in its diagnostic score compared to the 7.2% and 3.2% improvements of groups 2 and 3 respectively. Group 2 used the CAI significantly more than group 3. We conclude that CAI is at least as effective as seminars in teaching cardiac auscultation to third-year medical students.

Auscultation of the heart: a trial of classroom teaching versus computer‐based independent learning

“…There are many differences between the study of Mangione et al . (1991 ) and the present study, making comparisons difficult.…”

“…Computer‐aided instruction of cardiac auscultation has previously been reported by Mangione et al . (1991 ), who compared pre‐ and post‐test results on 35 students divided into computer, seminar and combined groups.…”

An Ethnographic, Controlled Study of the Use of a Computer-based Histology Atlas during a Laboratory Course

“…Walsh and Bohn 13 demonstrated positive perception by medical students using a radiology program but no significant changes in test scores. Broader outcome measures were used by Mangione et al, 14 who demonstrated some qualitative differences but no differences in test scores in an auscultation tutorial used by an individual compared with small-group learning, and Garrett et al 15 used self-report scores of 23 thirdyear students to demonstrate perceived usefulness of a blood-smear teaching program.…”

International trial of online auditory training programme for distinguishing innocent and pathological murmurs

“…In the relatively sparse literature analysing teaching techniques of auscultation of the heart, a few factors for improving learning and performance have been noted. Principal among these is the importance of repetition of hearing the heart sounds, unsurprisingly as repetition is important in the acquisition of most skills.…”