Editing Stethoscope (section)

==Current practice==

[[File:Standardized-Patient-Program-examining-t he-abdomen.jpg|thumb|A doctor using a stethoscope on a patient's abdomen to listen to [[stomach rumble|bowel sounds]]]]

Stethoscopes are a symbol of healthcare professionals. Healthcare providers are often seen or depicted wearing a stethoscope around the neck. A 2012 research paper claimed that the stethoscope, when compared to other medical equipment, had the highest positive impact on the perceived trustworthiness of the practitioner seen with it.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Impact of the Presence of Medical Equipment in Images on Viewers' Perceptions of the Trustworthiness of an Individual On-Screen|volume=14|issue=4|pages=e100|journal=Journal of Medical Internet Research |doi=10.2196/jmir.1986|pmid=22782078|pmc=3409609|year=2012|last1=Jiwa|first1=Moyez|last2=Millett|first2=Stephan|last3=Meng|first3=Xingqiong|last4=Hewitt|first4=Vivien M. |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=McLoughlin |first=Mario J |date=30 October 2012 |title=Cardiac auscultation: preliminary findings of a pilot study using continuous Wave Doppler and comparison with classic auscultation |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23117017/ |journal=International Journal of Cardiology|volume=167 |issue=2 |pages=590–591 |doi=10.1016/j.ijcard.2012.09.223 |pmid=23117017 }}</ref>

Prevailing opinions on the utility of the stethoscope in current clinical practice vary depending on the medical specialty. Studies have shown that auscultation skill (i.e., the ability to make a diagnosis based on what is heard through a stethoscope) has been in decline for some time, such that some medical educators are working to re-establish it.<ref name="pmid_15571638">{{Cite journal |last=Wann |first=Samuel L |date=21 September 2022 |title=The Traditional Stethoscope May Be Obsolete but the Need for Human Connection Is Not |url=https://www.ajconline.org/article/S0002-9149(22)00900-6/fulltext |journal=The American Journal of Cardiology |volume=184 |pages=147–148|doi=10.1016/j.amjcard.2022.08.020 |pmid=36153180 |s2cid=252493231 }}</ref><ref name="Respir_Care_2005_50_5_660">{{Citation |last=Murphy |first=R |year=2005 |title=The stethoscope – obsolescence or marriage? |journal=Respir Care |volume=50 |issue=5 |pages=660–661 |url=http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/50/5/660.full.pdf+html |pmid= 15912626|postscript=.}}</ref><ref name="Bernstein_2016-01-02">{{Citation |last=Bernstein |first=Lenny |date=2016-01-02 |title=Heart doctors are listening for clues to the future of their stethoscopes |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/heart-doctors-are-listening-for-clues-to-the-future-of-their-stethoscopes/2016/01/02/bd73b000-a98d-11e5-8058-480b572b4aae_story.html |postscript=.}}</ref>

In general practice, traditional blood pressure measurement using a mechanical [[sphygmomanometer]] with inflatable cuff and stethoscope is gradually being replaced with automated blood pressure monitors.<ref name="pmid_30715088">{{Citation |last1=Roerecke |first1=M |last2=Kaczorowski |first2=J |last3=Myers |first3=MG |year=2019 |title=Comparing automated office blood pressure readings with other methods of blood pressure measurement for identifying patients with possible hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis |journal=JAMA Intern Med |volume= 179|issue= 3|pages=351–362 |pmid=30715088 |doi=10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.6551 |postscript=. |pmc=6439707}}</ref>