As a patient, does the stethoscope type matter?

I have read here a lot on the stethoscope the doctors or nurses use, and their preferences.

On the other end, I am asking if the same matters for the patients here?

I mean, I some times see auscultations performed with cheap low-end stethoscope (therefore probably not really listening), and I personally prefer that my doctor uses a really professional stethoscope, and listens carefully (if she has a good stethoscope it is for listening of course)?

In a medical setting I don’t really care as long as they can hear what they need to. However I think seeing a nurse or doctor with a professional stethoscope say a Littman or Mdf certainly does give a hint of confidence they know what they are doing more then a 5.99 budget one

It kinda bugs me to see a serious doctor using a cheaper steth - but as long as they're able to hear what they need to hear it doesn't matter.

I would like Dr to use , Cardiology Stainless Steel or Brass dual head Stethoscope . Brand would not matter much given that local brands can be sometimes as good as a Littmann or MDF, but it must be heavy looking and should add to Doctors Authority and impose his/her power differential

Of course a real medical professional should have a good stethoscope. If your private doctor use a cheap one, you should change him/her. For us here, on this site, has knowledge to find out things like that. You should also have your own real good stethoscope, so you can know what your doctor hear, when he/she listen on you.

Stethoscopes with a heavy double-sided metal head or two tubes look more interesting than cheap flat stethoscopes.

For me as a patient the stethoscope doesn't matter. It's a important part for the realness, but for me it makes no difference with brand they are using

I've actually never thought much about this, so I guess it does not matter to me. Sorry.

In a play exam, I will be rather superficial and say that a super expensive Littman Cardiology type or Welch Allyn is going to get me a little more cardio crazy than a less expensive model. However, I think its just as important how its being used. I happen to think sprague- rappaport stethoscopes are pretty rad, and as long as my play doc is thoroughly listening to me, then ultimately that's what matters.

In real life I don't really care. I had a Littman master classic II I used at work and really loved it. I had colleagues who used the regular classsic II and III models and had a good ear for what they needed to listen for. There is some hyper around all the cardiology models that is sometimes rather undeserved, and they don't compensate for poor utilization either.

No. I couldn't tell one from another. I know Littman is supposed to be a good brand, but that's the only brand I recognize.

I just love a cold stethoscope on my abdomen.

I had never thought of this until I saw this post.

I have been to all kinds of clinics, and all kinds of docs in my 67 years, and have, in the past, noticed the cursive L on some heads.

If I am at my PCP, I don't have the same expectations of quality equipment as I would going to a board certified cardiologist.

Now if I see a Walgreens level scope hanging around THEIR neck, I'm gonna RUN!

Well, I have to confess that, as soon as I see that the doc is grabbing a stethoscope of a well known and famous brand, I'm not just sure to be at the right place, my heart immediately starts pounding, knowing to be stethed in general. And with a steth of good quality, the doc will hear all the different sounds properly.

As a patient it doesn't necessarily matter much. As someone who works in the medical field , yes it does matter

I have a strong preference for Sprague style with bell and diaphragm, for some reason the fancy 2 in 1 just isn't the same for me. I don't know if the expensiveness matters to me as long as I can hear and it looks the way I like. I have a black no name Sprague with changeable bells and I really like it even though at this point I could afford something nicer.

I’m not aware that they come in different styles. For me, there’s no thrill or interest. It’s just a medical tool.

Style or brand doesn't particularly matter to me, as long as it's not something cheap that might make me question a doctor's professionalism and ability to treat me.

While the stethoscope is of high or low quality, and important to take into consideration, THERE IS ONE RATHER VERY IMPORTANT factor missing in this VERY stupid pointless debate I regards about what a stethoscope looks like, the brand and type. If the person using it isn’t properly trained as to what they are listening for, why they are listening, properly using the stethoscope they are using as there are so many different types available on the market today, then the best and worst stethoscope is NOT going to do them any good. The person listening could end up making very grave mistakes that can ultimately cost the life of the patient.

Just as the stethoscope is a tool used in diagnosis, there are other key critical skills that need to be used. Hands on physical observation of the patient, listening to the patient, knowing how to get a thorough verbal history quickly.

What is temperature outside, what they were doing before the appointments, the reason for the appointment. Are they hydrated, do they have thyroid issues, their appearance, pallor, breathing, temperature, exertion, their physical position, ie: standing, sitting, laying down, partially reclined, any SOB, pain, dizziness, blurred vision, chest pain, headache or increase upon certain positioning with chest pain and headache and dizziness, blurred vision, sweating, swelling in the limbs and or joints. The positions they are put in with B/P. Their personal and family medical history, what were doing before they came for their appointment. Do they or don’t exercise, have they recently started a new exercise, lifestyle, diet change, medication, supplement etc? So many countless things impact health.

A well trained medical provider can quickly do a visual assessment and ask all these questions in addition to skillfully using their stethoscope. This gives the medical provider valuable information before doing any auscultation.

For me, the stethoscope look is important. When the doctor uses a great looking cardiology stethoscope, it will feel like more embarracing for me.

Most people here dont care how the stethoscope look. But for me it is the most important. I will feel dissapointment if my doctor hands up a cheap nurse-stethoscope. The good thing is that the exam would not feel embarracing, because it does not feel and look right.

…….I won’t lie. I do judge doctors based on their stethoscope. 😄 I prefer something a little higher quality. My old primary care used a Welch Allyn and I adored the look. Desperately wish I could have gotten to use that one! My current doctor uses a Littmann Cardiology IV - one of my all time faves!

For me in a weird way yes. I have a hard time taking a doctor wearing what I call a play school stethoscope seriously. Yes I get that in todays day and age especially in hospitals disposable steths are common however for me I prefer to see a Littman or at least a Mdf or Adc on their neck. A eko would be even better!!!

It's funny how play drs usually love to have high-end steths but not all real drs do? I appreciate the dr, whether play or rl, having a steth that is higher quality, as it helps build a bit more trust in what they say they're hearing.

Can't speak for doctors trained in the last 20-30 years but when I was trained in the 70s we didn't have all the diagnostics so our acumen with our stethoscope was vital. Littman was very common but I preferred my Sprague Rappaport. Doctors at the VA, even the cardiologists, tended to have various government issued stethoscopes which despite not being name brands, were very good quality. I suppose my point is that over the course of training and practice, doctors try lots of stethoscopes and settle on what they hear best with. No one wants to treat patients with less. But now with echos and Dopplers, among others, stethoscopes are a bit less diagnostic but still highly useful

I know a cardiologist (electrophysiologist) who uses the lower cost - but decent - stethoscopes, primarilly because he loses them a lot! For his patients, they rely on more accurate diagnostic tests. He’s shown me computer diagnostics on his computer where you can visualize an electrical charge travel through the heart. Very high tech. They use that to optimally target pacemakers.

I have one I use for listening to machinery. It is more like a rod that vibrates and resonates in my ears. It is called a mechanic's Stethoscope scope.

It looks plain and boring. There are relay-good ones and cheapo posers that look exactly the same but perform poorly.

If I were to take my really good one spray painted pink and white with blue and red ribbons tied in bows around the tubes going to my ears which one would most people choose as the best by looks? The poser most of the time. And that's why my expensive high-end stethoscope looks like that. No one steals it because it looks cheap and stupid. They do steal the poser and other people's professional-looking tools. All my tools are painted purple and pink. no one wants them.

For me in a weird way yes. I have a hard time taking a doctor wearing what I call a play school stethoscope seriously. Yes I get that in todays day and age especially in hospitals disposable steths are common however for me I prefer to see a Littman or at least a Mdf or Adc on their neck. A eko would be even better!!!

Not weird, i'd say intuitive and discerning. i've listened to thousands of lungs, hearts and abdomens. During Covid we were instructed to use disposable stethoscopes (i called the PlaySkool too). i rejected them, brought my own into a patients room and sanitized it after, like we've been doing forever, prior to disposables.

You cannot hear with a disposable. In a hospital environment that has 'semi private' rooms, is a teaching hospital, and LOUD, even a Littmann III will miss things. i love my Eko attached to a Littmann. Cuts out ambient noise and amplifies through barrel chests and large body habitus.

Only problem with the LIttmann is the diaphragm falls out from the ring that holds it in place. i don't like wearing mine around my neck, i stuff it in one of my deep scrub pockets and have had to retrieve both the pediatric and adult diaphragm from my pocket and re-attach it. Littmann needs to do better with this. i have an Adc as well and think the acoustics is better than the LIttmann III (sans Elo)... when i'm in a quiet environment. i've also had an amplified 3200 Littmann that had a different diaphragm. It was great, but got stolen (even with my name engraved on it). It didn't reduce ambient sound, but the amplifier heard through and past everything. They have been discontinued i think.

…….I won’t lie. I do judge doctors based on their stethoscope. 😄

So do I. If they use cheap nurse steth, even Littmann lightweight, it's just not the prefered level.

Stethoscope brands are really important and there's a level of hotness, although every stethoscope would have "something."

Since I think only in the context of the doctor's game with an erotic bias, the appearance of the stethoscope is in the first place for me. Until recently, I put rapoport in the first place, but I saw welch-allyn harvey in the picture, with two sides, and this crazy beautiful metal beauty just drove me crazy. But it is very expensive to use as a gaming tool. Maybe look for a used one...