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.

Innovative web-based multimedia curriculum improves cardiac examination competency of residents.

Background: Proper diagnosis of cardiac disorders is a core competency of internists. Yet numerous studies have documented that the cardiac examination (CE) skills of physicians have declined compared with those of previous generations of physicians, attributed variously to inadequate exposure to cardiac patients and lack of skilled bedside teaching. With growing concerns about ensuring patient safety and quality of care, public and professional organizations are calling for a renewed emphasis on the teaching and evaluation of clinical skills in residency training.