Hypertension is a very prevalent disease that causes lesions in target organs, high morbidity and mortality. Assessing the cardiac effects of hypertension through echocardiogram plays an important role in the clinical management of the condition and these images can be used for teaching. Objectives: To develop and evaluate a software, built from echocardiographic images, addressing illustratively and interactively normal cardiac structure and function as well as lesions induced by hypertension. Methods: Echocardiographic images from normal subjects and patients with cardiac involvement induced by hypertension (left ventricular hypertrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy and myocardial infarction) were selected. With these images a software was built in Flash multimedia that was evaluated by student doctors (n=38) and student nurses (n=18), who also underwent pre- and post-testing. Results: The students considered the software useful, attractive and appropriate to current proactive educational methodologies, promoting knowledge acquisition in the understanding of cardiac involvement in hypertension. Conclusion: The software was evaluated positively and considered useful for gaining knowledge in a specific but prevalent area of adult health impairment.
Hypertension; Echocardiogram; Health Education; Software; Medical Education
