Key result
Sixth-year medical students score ~51% higher on ECG interpretation than earlier-year students.
Why the study?
The study was conducted to assess ECG interpretation competency and confidence among medical students across training years and evaluate associations with various factors, a curriculum change, and confidence.
Cross-Sectional (n=414)
No
Absolute Event Rate: 4.37% vs 2.9%
p-value: p=<0.0001
Medical student competency in ECG interpretation is insufficient but improves with increased and repetitive exposure, highlighting the need for competency-based educational programs.
ECG competency rises with medical school year; leaves open optimal curriculum design for sufficient proficiency.
Objectives: To assess competency and confidence in ECG interpretation in medical students across years of medical school and evaluate the associations of various factors, a curriculum change, and student confidence with ECG competency. Methods: Four hundred and fourteen (414) third- to sixth-year medical students participated in this cross-sectional study conducted in 2019 in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. A voluntary response sample of participants answered a validated, web-based questionnaire, composed of eight ECG strips. Participants were also asked about confidence and sources for ECG education and exposure. Competency and confidence across medical school years were compared using the ANOVA and chi-square tests. Results: =0.5, p<0.0001). Conclusions: Student competency was shown to be insufficient throughout medical school. Competency and confidence in ECG interpretation seem to be significantly improved by increased and repetitive exposure to ECG. Thus, strategies to facilitate better ECG skills should involve an extended focus on ECG in the undergraduate and graduate curricula and include competency-based educational programs.
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Vishnevsky et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in ECG interpretation competency (n=414). Sixth-year medical education vs. Third- to fifth-year medical education was evaluated on Mean ECG interpretation score (out of 8) (p=<0.0001). Sixth-year medical students demonstrated significantly higher competency in ECG interpretation compared to third-, fourth-, and fifth-year students (mean score 4.37 vs. 2.90, 2.90, and 2.50 out of 8).
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