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A Decision-Directed Cardiac Exam in Medical School

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Abstract

What most physicians need when performing a physical examination is the ability to be able to recognize normal from abnormal and, if abnormal findings are present, to be able to diagnose or categorize disease in a useful fashion. This manuscript describes a technique that is feasible and acceptable in accomplishing this by changing the learning objectives for teaching cardiac auscultation to focus on recognizing audible decision-making findings and ensuring competency by requiring passing an auscultation-only examination that is limited to such findings. Medical students indicated the program was helpful and increased their confidence in performing cardiac auscultation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Wendy Labuzan, the coordinator of examinations, for the support during the exam administration process.

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Correspondence to Daniel M. Gelfman.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Gelfman, D.M., Zahl, S.B. A Decision-Directed Cardiac Exam in Medical School. Med.Sci.Educ. 30, 1019–1024 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-020-00982-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-020-00982-5

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