It has been widely recognized that there is a few opportunity to study the actual abnormal heart sounds directly from patients in cardiology wards during the clinical training for medical students. Though the expensive simulation system is very useful in this situation, it can be utilized only for limited number of students at the special occasion. We developed a simulation system for the self-directed learning on auscultation of various abnormal heart sounds through Windows and Macintosh personal computers.

This system was produced using Macromedia Director 7.0. The operation environments necessary for the system are Windows95, Windows98 or Macintosh OS with external speaker or headphone. This system is composed of the learning and practice modes. In the learning mode, students can choose the learning materials from a list of normal and abnormal heart sounds. The heart sounds can be audible by pointing the mouse pointer (shape of stethoscope) and pressing the mouse button at the appropriate place on the photograph of the chest that appeared on the screen. In the practice mode, students would be requested to make diagnosis by auscultation through above mentioned manner against cases appearing as a randomized order.

In conclusion, this system has following characteristics. 1) It makes possible to learn skills for auscultation of the abnormal heart sounds only by the personal computer as equivalent as the expensive simulation system. 2) The heart sounds can be audible only at the proper position. 3) The abnormal heart sounds becomes weaker, as it goes away from the point of maximum intensity of it.

Attendees will have a chance to know the way of the production of this system. And they will acquire ideas through the discussion about the method of this self-directed learning system for the practice of auscultation of abnormal heart sounds for medical students in clinical training.

Michio SHIIBASHI Ph.D.
Medical Informatics Center, Saitama Medical School
38 Morohongo, Moroyama, Saitama 350-0495, JAPAN
Phone: +81-492-76-1153
Fax: +81-492-76-1041
Email: mshiibas@saitama-med.ac.jp

CO-AUTHORS:

Hitomi TAKANO
Miho SUZUKI
Ryozo OHNO M.D.
TAKANO and SUZUKI
Medical Informatics Center, Saitama Medical School
38 Morohongo, Moroyama, Saitama 350-0495, JAPAN
Dr. OHNO
Office of Medical Education, Saitama Medical School
38 Morohongo, Moroyama, Saitama 350-0495, JAPAN
Phone: TAKANO and SUZUKI
+81-492-76-1153
Dr. OHNO
+81-492-76-1491
Fax: TAKANO and SUZUKI
+81-492-76-1041
Dr. OHNO
+81-492-95-8066
Email: TAKANO
hmiyashi@saitama-med.ac.jp
SUZUKI
misuzuki@saitama-med.ac.jp
Dr. OHNO
rzohno@saitama-med.ac.jp