Enhancing Respiratory Auscultation Skills Through Clinical Correlation and Imaging

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Mastery in respiratory auscultation has evolved with educational strategies emphasizing clinical cases and radiological imaging integration. Clinical correlation with radiography, CT scans, and bedside thoracic ultrasound, combined with auscultation, offers a multifaceted perspective on respiratory diseases, enhancing learning significantly. <bold>Objectives:</bold> To assess the impact of an integrated educational approach on auscultation proficiency, using pre- and post-training tests based on the European Respiratory Society's (ERS) Reference Database of Respiratory Sounds. <bold>Methods:</bold> An online study was conducted with participants from 17 Brazilian cities, using 20 questions pre- and post-test assessments. Inclusion criteria were completion of the pre-test, participation in the entire online course, and completion of the post-test. The training encompassed clinical cases and auscultation videos, focusing on integrating clinical examination with bedside radiography, tomography, and ultrasound imaging studies. <bold>Results:</bold> Fifty-five participants, including students and recently graduated doctors, demonstrated a notable improvement in auscultation skills, with accuracy increasing from 57.43% pre-training to 79.73% post-training (p < 0.001). <bold>Conclusions:</bold> The study underscores the significant benefits of combining clinical cases, pathophysiological explanations, and imaging examinations to improve respiratory auscultation skills. This comprehensive training approach, validated by objective assessments using ERS resources, highlights the importance of integrating diverse learning modalities in medical education to enhance clinical skills proficiency.