Teaching Cardiopulmonary Auscultation to Medical Students using a Virtual Patient Simulation Technology

The teaching process of auscultation is complex in itself, and difficult to operate since it requires a wide spectrum of patients with the most diverse cardiopulmonary pathologies, readily available during teaching and assessment hours, for an ever-growing number of medical students. In this paper we will focus on how virtual patient technologies can promote the evolution of the current teaching methodologies, promoting better learning. The chosen methodology was: a) a review of available medical simulation technologies for auscultation teaching; b) a case study illustrating how a virtual patient simulation technology has been successfully used to teach and certify auscultation skills. Results show the positive impact and high acceptability of virtual patient simulation technologies in the teaching of auscultation to medical students.