Does Learner Self-Efficacy Influence Accurate Identification of Heart Sound Descriptions?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Cardiology
• Physician Assistant Studies

Background:

• Limited theory-based research exists on skill development in physician assistant (PA) students.
• PA training includes cardiac instruction, but self-efficacy and skill acquisition require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between self-efficacy and the ability to correctly identify heart sounds in PA students.
• Investigate factors influencing cardiac auscultation proficiency in PA education.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving two cohorts of PA students.
• Self-efficacy assessed using 5-point Likert scales; heart sound identification from text descriptions.
• Data from 154 students analyzed using Cronbach's alpha and bivariate statistics.

Main Results:

• Second-year PA students demonstrated higher accuracy in identifying heart sounds compared to first-year students.
• A positive correlation was observed between student confidence (self-efficacy) and correct identification of heart sounds.

Conclusions:

• Findings align with social cognitive theory, suggesting self-efficacy influences performance in PA students.
• Educational strategies aimed at enhancing self-efficacy may improve cardiac auscultation skills in PA trainees.