Physicians' ability to recognize adventitious lung sounds.

BACKGROUND
Lung auscultation is an important tool for diagnosing respiratory diseases. However, the ability of observers to recognize respiratory sounds varies considerably and depends on the sound. The present study aimed to assess the auscultatory skills of health care professionals and medical students.


METHODS
A total of 295 physicians (185 pediatricians, 69 pulmonologists, and 41 physicians of general/internal medicine andsubspecialties), 55 residents, and 50 medical students participated in the survey. They listened tofiveaudio-recorded respiratory soundsand described them in free-form answers.


RESULTS
The rates of correct answers were 55.2% for fine crackles, 74.5% for coarse crackles, 72.2% for wheezes, 18.75% for squawks and 11.25% for pleural friction rub. The medical specialty was correlated with the correct answers and both pediatricians and physicians of general/internal medicine and subspecialties recognized fewer sounds compared to respiratory physicians (OR:0.37; CI: 0.22-0.62; p<0.001 and, OR:0.47; CI: 0.22-0.99, p=0.048, respectively). Years ofexperience were negatively correlated with the number of correct answers (OR:0.73; CI:0.62-0.84; p=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Gaps remain in both terminology and recognition of lung sounds among a wide population of Greek physicians. Less experienced physicians perform better onlung auscultation, indicating that continuing education with critical feedback should be offered. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.