iAuscultate

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iAuscultate

iAuscultate was developed to instruct students in the health professions learn to auscultate - and, learn to auscultate better. Some recent studies suggest that ability to auscultate in new learners needs improvement. iAuscultate augments classroom and bedside learning. When learning the meaning of a new sound learners usually remember things better if there is a visual cue for them; as such, we have learners listen to a heart sound while viewing a visual cue. Our research suggests this improves ability to remember what the sounds mean. The format uses a stragegy of having learners only tackle nine sounds (rather than scores of sounds) as a strategy of having deeper learning of fewer topics that 'sticks'. We use this method as heart sound interpretation is not something that students should only have exposure to; rather, they should carry the information with them throughout their careers. Overall, we address the problem of suboptimal recognition of heart sounds with iAuscultate - we hope you enjoy this learning experience.

iAuscultate

The cardiac auscultation learning method.

Original ADOBE FLASH version by Glenn Nordehn and Spencer Strunic.

Software written by Peter Bentley, 'The Undercover Scientist.' Check out the new science book (Link).

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The Learning Principals behind iAuscultate

iAuscultate is a method to learn cardiac auscultation developed by Glenn Nordehn and Spencer Stunic. The method utilizes principals of:

pairing a visual image with a sound during the learning process and

showing and hearing a limited number of sounds in a repetitive manner

learning a short period of time.

The method used in iAuscultation was proven useful in a study done at the University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth. Link to publication:
Glenn Nordehn, Spencer Strunic, Tom Solner, Nicholas Karlisch, Ian Kramer, Stanley Burns, "R Glenn Nordehn, Spencer Strunic, Tom Soldner, Nicholas Karlisch, Ian Kramer, Stanley Burs, "Retention Of Cardiac Auscultation Skill Requires Paired Visual And Audio Information In New Learners." Journal of Medical Devices, June 2008, Vol. 2, Issue 2, 027503

The Developers

Glenn Nordehn's research interests are in heart sound analysis and interpretation. iAuscultate is an iPhone App developed as a part of an overall research effort to automate auscultation. Glenn Nordehn is a faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth. Spencer Stunic is a graduated Masters student in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Minnesota Duluth, Swenson College of Science and Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Together Glenn and Spencer developed and proved that the methods used to learn auscultation in the iAuscultate iPhone App are effective. The sounds used in this program were developed using a heart sound simulator.

Who iAuscultate is aimed for

iAuscultate is aimed for anyone who wants to learn about heart sounds. There is no need for prior knowledge of heart sounds to gain something from using the sound. Obviously, people in the health professions who will be doing heart auscultation will benefit the most. Students of medicine, pharmacy, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, nurse, medic, and others who may auscultate will benefit the most.

Beginning learners will gain the most from participating in iAuscultate; however, all auscultators should have increased auscultation skill after participating in this learning program.

Suggested timetable for use

We recommend you complete the entire iAuscultate exercise within a 48 hour period.

How often to use

You may benefit from annually repeated use of iAuscultate if you are not exposed to this variety of sounds frequently.

IMPORTANT

Users should not solely rely on the app alone for diagnosis instruction. The app should not be used for self-diagnosis and if a user has any health concerns (including concerns about heart sounds) they should see their physicians. This is not a substitute for a visit to the doctor; this is only a learning tool for those who need to learn to auscultate. It is a way to augment auscultation skills as taught in the health professions schools; it is not a replacement for other instructional methods used in these schools.