Determination of the Level of Emergency Medicine Resident Physicians to Recognize the Electrocardiography Findings

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the accuracy and reliability of the interpretation of electrocardiography (ECG) findings by emergency medicine resident physicians (EMPs) and to provide training recommendations in line with emerging deficiencies. Material and Methods: This research depended on the data from a questionnaire that we conducted among EMPs in Ankara. The survey included multiple-choice questions, selected through conceived cases presented in major textbooks or congresses. EMP ECG assessment levels were compared according to the duration of residency education and the presence of ECG education. The data were evaluated by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: A total of 112 volunteers participated. Mean age was 29.6±4.4; also, 47 were female and 65 were male. When all of the questions were taken into account, the mean number of total correct answers was higher for those who had received ECG training than who had not received it, those who underwent more training than those who underwent less training, and those whose duration of assistantship was longer than those whose duration was shorter. Conclusion: The results of our study revealed that the evaluation of ECG is improved by increasing clinical knowledge and training. Depending on these results, we suggest that effective and practical ECG courses and training programs should be organized for EMPs. (JAEM 2014; 13: 108-11)