Confidential testing of cardiac examination competency in cardiology and noncardiology faculty and trainees: a multicenter study.

Background: Many reported studies of medical trainees and physicians have demonstrated major deficiencies in correctly identifying heart sounds and murmurs, but cardiologists had not been tested. We previously confirmed these deficiencies using a 50-question multimedia cardiac examination (CE) test featuring video vignettes of patients with auscultatory and visible manifestations of cardiovascular pathology (virtual cardiac patients). Previous testing of 62 internal medical faculty yielded scores no better than those of medical students and residents.

Using virtual patients to improve cardiac examination competency in medical students.

Background: Cardiac examination (CE) skills are in decline. Most prior studies employed audio recordings, evaluating only one aspect of CE (i.e.

Competency in cardiac examination skills in medical students, trainees, physicians, and faculty: a multicenter study.

Background: Cardiac examination is an essential aspect of the physical examination. Previous studies have shown poor diagnostic accuracy, but most used audio recordings, precluding correlation with visible observations. The training spectrum from medical students (MSs) to faculty has not been tested, to our knowledge.