Assess the effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on knowledge regarding Electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation among second year B.Sc. Nursing students

Background: World Health Organization reports that non-communicable diseases are responsible for about 70% of worldwide deaths. Electrocardiography is the most commonly used diagnostic test in cardiology. Nurses being a member of health team should be able to interpret ECG finding up to her extent of practice needed in clinical settings. Objectives: 1. To assesses the level of knowledge regarding ECG interpretation among second year B.Sc. nursing students. 2. To assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme (STP) on level of knowledge regarding ECG interpretation among second year B.Sc. nursing students. 3. To determine the association between pre-test knowledge scores regarding ECG interpretation with selected sample characteristics. Methodology: The research design used for this study was pre experimental, one group pre-test post-test design. The study was conducted at St. Philomena’s College of Nursing in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The sample size selected for this study consists of 60 2nd year B.Sc. nursing students. Non- probability consecutive sampling technique was used to select the samples. The tool used in this study was socio-demographic profile of nursing students and structured knowledge questionnaire. Result: In the pre-test, none of the samples had good knowledge, whereas 4 (6.7%) samples had average knowledge and 56(93.3%) of them had poor knowledge. In the post-test, 9(15%) had good knowledge, whereas 26 (43.3%) samples had average knowledge and 25 (41.7%) of them had poor knowledge. The mean post- test knowledge (31.45) score was higher than the mean pre-test (15.12). The scores predicted the significant difference (16.33) at p<0.05 level. The calculated “z” value was (10.96) at p <0.05 level of significance, which indicated the significant difference in the level of knowledge before and after the implementation of structured teaching program. It was also found that among socio-demographic variables none had association with the knowledge of 2nd year B.Sc. nursing students. Conclusion: From the findings of the study, it was concluded that the structured teaching programme was effective in improving the knowledge of 2nd year B.Sc. nursing students. Periodic updating of knowledge and skill regarding ECG interpretation must be strictly done among nursing students through repeated classes, demonstrations and assessments.