The Efficacy of Medical Students to Identify Pathological Lung Sound Over a Period of Time

Title: The efficacy of medical students to correctly recognise pathological from non-pathological lung sounds over a period of time.Methodology: Randomised, controlled trial, blind study.Study Duration: The estimated duration for the main protocol (e.g., from the start of screening to the last subject processed and finishing the study) is approximately 6 months.Study Centre: Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU).Objectives: Primary Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of second-year & third-year students in correctly identifying pathological and not pathological lung sounds. Secondary Objectives: To evaluate the loss of the ability of the student to correctly identify pathological lung sounds over a period of time.Number of Subjects: 140 randomised students in two groups; the first group is the control group (CNT), and a second group (EXP) will be exposed to pathological and none pathological lung sounds.Diagnosis and Main Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion Criteria · Male and female second and third-year LSMU students, 18-40 years old, in any distribution. · Consent and compliance with all aspects of the study protocol, and methods, providing data during follow-up contact · See the methods section for the full list of inclusion criteria. Exclusion Criteria · Deafness · Age over 40 · Conditions that prevent the student from using earphones · See the methods section for a full list of exclusion criteria.Regimen: CNT group will not receive training. Whilst group will receive 3-day training for 21 patient cases (57% with pathological lung sounds).Statistical Methodology: Results will be analysed with the SPSS (version 27). A p-value < 0.05 will be considered statistically significant. The groups (CNT vs EXP) will be compared with the independent Student's t-test to see if there is a significant difference between the mean of the two groups. Though, if the data does not adhere to the parametric test's criteria a Mann-Whitney test will be applied. Whilst for the measurement made over 6 months of students' sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy (at intervals of 4, 10, 34, 184 -days) a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical test will be applied for normally distributed data. Whilst, if data is not normally distributed a none parametric test will be applied such as Kruskal - Wallis method. McNemar's test will be applied to compare the performances of the same EXP students between their second- and third-year peers.

Inclusion Criteria:Male and female second and third-year LSMU students;18 years and older;subject that provides full written consent to participate in the study.Exclusion Criteria:not a second-year or third-year at LSMU;deafness;age over 40;conditions that prevent students from using earphones;subject does not provide full consent.