Key Points
- The study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of ECG precordial electrode placement among healthcare providers in emergency settings.
- Recruitment of 120 subjects from six hospitals over two days
- Participants included physicians, nurses, and cardiac technicians
- Subjects identified electrode positions on diagrams and completed a questionnaire.
- Only 16% of cardiologists correctly positioned V1 in the fourth right intercostal space (p<0.001 for inter-group differences)
- V5 and V6 placements were often too high on the lateral chest wall
- Wide inter-individual and inter-group variations were found in electrode placements.
Structured PICO
PPopulation120 healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, and cardiac technicians) involved in the emergency care of patients admitted with suspected cardiac diseases across six hospitals.
IInterventionQuestionnaire and diagram marking task to identify the correct placement of precordial ECG electrodes (V1-V6).
OOutcomeAccuracy of identifying the correct anatomical positions for precordial ECG electrodes (V1-V6) on a chest wall diagram.
There is a significant knowledge gap regarding correct ECG precordial lead placement among healthcare professionals, particularly cardiologists, which risks misdiagnosis and inappropriate clinical management.