Journal article
Self-Directed Study Using MP3 Players to Improve Auscultation Proficiency of Physicians: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
The Journal of continuing education in the health professions, v 34(2), pp 131-138
2014
PMID: 24939355
Abstract
Introduction Studies of physicians at all levels of training demonstrate significant deficiencies in cardiac auscultation skills. The best instructional methods to augment these skills are not known. Methods This study was a randomized, controlled trial of 83 noncardiologist volunteers exposed to a 12-week lower cognitive load self-study group using MP3 players containing heart sound audio files compared to a group receiving a 1-time 1-hour higher cognitive load multimedia lecture using the same audio files. The primary outcome measure was change in 15-question posttest score at 4 and 12 weeks as compared to pretest on recognition of identical audio files introduced during training. In the self-study group, the association of total exposure and deliberate practice effort (estimated by standard deviation of files played/mean) to improvement in test score was measured as a secondary end point. Results Self-study group participants improved as compared to pretest by 4.42 +/- 3.41 answers correct at 12 weeks (5.09-9.51 correct, p < .001), while those exposed to the multimedia lecture improved by an average of 1.13 +/- 3.2 answers correct (4.48-5.61 correct, p = .03). In the self-study arm, improvement in the posttest was positively associated with both total exposure ( = 0.55, p < .001) and deliberate practice score ( = 0.31, p = .02). Discussion A lower cognitive load self-study of audio files improved recognition of cardiac sounds, as compared to multimedia lecture, and deliberate practice strategies improved study efficiency. More investigation is needed to assess transfer of learning to a wider range of cardiac sounds in both simulated and clinical environments.
Metrics
1 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Self-Directed Study Using MP3 Players to Improve Auscultation Proficiency of Physicians: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
- Creators
- Anthony A. Donato - Reading HospitalAntony G. Kaliyadan - Reading HospitalThomas Wasser - Jefferson College
- Publication Details
- The Journal of continuing education in the health professions, v 34(2), pp 131-138
- Publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- Number of pages
- 8
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Medicine (Graduate); General Internal Medicine
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000337622500006
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84927512447
- Other Identifier
- 991022161833104721