Virtual patient evaluation by means of digital phonocardiography: A total of 7 hours practice of interactive teaching  and interpretation of heart sounds and murmurs, as reproduced through a high quality sound system with individual listening of selected recordings. Digital phonocardiograms of selected pediatric cardiology outpatients were demonstrated and discussed

Echocardiography-ECG hands-on practice: A total of 8 hours practice with handheld echocardiography systems, with students practicing under the supervision of their teachers or interpreting ECG abnormalities

Supervised evaluation of children: 

Children evaluation was performed following public announcement of the availability of supervised cardiac evaluation of children during the PCIP course, both among hotel personnel as well as among parents of a remote area primary school (3rd grade school children only).   PCIP participants also attended an outpatient pediatric cardiology clinic in University Hospital of Heraklion as well, where selected  outpatients were presented to students and discussed by all teachers. All parents of participant children provided a signed informed consent for their participation in the hands-on supervised practical exercise.

A total of 60 children were evaluated, including 12 hotel personnel children ( mean age 6.4 yrs), 43 school children (mean age 8.7 yrs) and 7 pediatric cardiology outpatients (including 2 antenatal-fetal evaluations).

Of the total group of 60 children, 5 had a previous diagnosed heart disease and 1 further child was detected with (minor) congenital heart disease during hands-on practical exercise Students were provided the chance to evaluate clinical, ECG and echo findings (where applicable) of children and discuss their findings with supervising teachers. 

Disclaimer: The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the publisher and the European Commission is not liable for any use that may be made of the information