The effectiveness of training on auscultation of heart with a simulator of cardiology in medical students

Abstract

AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the training module with a simulator of cardiology improves auscultation skills in medical students. METHODS: Medical students of the 3rd year after completing the module of the cardiovascular system of the discipline “Propedeutics of internal diseases,” passed a 2 h or 4 h training module in clinical auscultation with retesting immediately after the intervention and in the 4th year. The control group consisted of the 4th year medical students who had no intervention. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy in 2 h training was 45.9% versus 35.3% in 4 h training, p < 0.001. The use of a cardiosimulator significantly increased the accurate detection of mitral regurgitation immediately after training on a simulator (more than 73%), p < 0.001. The next academic year, regression was observed in the diagnostic accuracy of mitral insufficiency in the intervention group after 6 months of observation by 4%. The auscultation skills of students at the bedside of real patients did not increase after training on a simulator: The accuracy of diagnosis of the auscultatory picture of the defect was equally low in the intervention group and the control group (35.0% vs. 30.8%, p = 0.651). CONCLUSION: Two hours training was more effective than 4 h training. After training on cardiac auscultation using a patient’s cardiological simulator, the accuracy rate was low in a situation close to the clinical conditions and in a clinic on a real patient.