Usefulness of the Time-Axis Variable Function of the Digital Stethoscope in Teaching Cardiac Auscultation / 医学教育

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of the time-axis variable function of the digital stethoscope in teaching cardiac auscultation. The subjects were 61 fifth-year medical students. The effectiveness of the time-axis variable function of the digital stethoscope for cardiac auscultation was assessed with five representative heart sounds or murmurs. The students reported that auscultatory findings were clearer at half speed than at normal speed for the following sounds, in decreasing order of frequency systolic murmur following a systolic click, splitting of the second heart sound, systolic ejection murmur, and the third heart sound. In contrast, students frequently reported that auscultatory findings were clearer at normal speed for systolic regurgitation murmur. We suggest that the time-axis variable function is useful for improving auscultatory ability and would be particularly effective for helping students identify and understand the temporal relation of sequential heart sounds or of multicomponent murmurs.