Skills of primary healthcare physicians in paediatric cardiac auscultation. (16th November 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Germanakis, Ioannis; Petridou, Eleni Th; Varlamis, George; Matsoukis, Ioannis L; Papadopoulou‐Legbelou, Kiriaki; Kalmanti, Maria
• Is Part Of: Acta pædiatrica. Volume 102:Number 2(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: e74
• Page End: e78
• Publication Date: 2012-11-16
• Subjects: Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pediatrics; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1111/apa.12062
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0803-5253

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="apa12062-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="apa12062-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To evaluate the performance of primary healthcare physicians in paediatric cardiac auscultation and the impact of a multimedia‐based teaching intervention.</p> </sec> <sec id="apa12062-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A total of 106 primary healthcare physicians (77 paediatricians, 14 general practitioners and 15 medical graduates) attended four paediatric cardiac auscultation teaching courses based on virtual patients' presentation (digital phonocardiography). Their auscultatory performance was documented at the beginning of each course and at the end of two of the courses.</p> </sec> <sec id="apa12062-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Participants initially detected 73% of abnormal murmurs and 17% of additional sounds, while 22% of innocent murmurs were interpreted as abnormal. Overall cardiac auscultation performance, assessed by a combined auscultation score, was low and independent of training level (graduates: 39.5/trainees: 42.8/board certified: 42.6, p = 0.89) or specialty (paediatricians: 42.7/general practitioners: 43.1, p = 0.89). Multimedia‐based teaching was associated with a significant improvement in abnormal murmur (92.5%) and additional sound (40%) detection (p < 0.001), while 25% of innocent murmurs were still interpreted as abnormal (p = 0.127).</p> </sec> <sec id="apa12062-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Clinical skills of primary healthcare physicians in paediatric cardiac auscultation, independent of training level or specialty, still leave potential for improvement. Multimedia‐based teaching interventions represent an effective means of improving paediatric cardiac auscultatory skills.</p> </sec> </abstract>