A national survey of emergency medicine program directors found that 64.4% have a formal ECG curriculum, but only 20.7% test for competency and 58.6% oppose a national ECG examination.
Cross-Sectional (n=87)
Yes
While most emergency medicine residency programs have a formal ECG curriculum, few formally test competency, and most program directors oppose national competency requirements.
OBJECTIVES: A national survey of emergency medicine (EM) residency program directors (PDs) was conducted to review training and evaluation of residents in electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation and to assess the attitudes of PDs toward establishing national criteria for ECG competency. METHODS: An eight-question multiple-part survey was mailed to all 122 EM PDs. The presence of a formal ECG curriculum, teaching formats, and methods to assess competency were queried. The PDs' opinions on developing a national ECG curriculum, standardized assessment tool, and competency requirement for graduation were solicited on a five-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Surveys were received from 87 (71.3%) of the 122 EM residency programs. Of the responding programs, 56 (64.4%) had a formal ECG curriculum. Only 18 (20.7%) programs stated that they test for ECG competency, and even fewer, ten (11.5%) programs, require that residents prove competency to graduate. Although 32 (48.3%) PDs endorsed the idea of a national ECG curriculum, 51 (58.6%) opposed the implementation of a national ECG examination for EM. Similarly, 50 (57.5%) PDs opposed a national ECG competency requirement for graduation. CONCLUSIONS: While a majority of EM residency programs surveyed have a formal curriculum for ECG interpretation, less than a fourth formally test their residents or require proof of competency. The majority of residency PDs oppose the development of a national ECG examination or competency requirement for graduation. Implementation of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education directive for the demonstration of clinical competencies will be challenging given the current position of PDs.
Ginde et al. (Tue,) conducted a cross-sectional in Emergency medicine residency training (n=87). Survey was evaluated on Presence of a formal ECG curriculum, teaching formats, methods to assess competency, and opinions on national criteria. A national survey of emergency medicine program directors found that 64.4% have a formal ECG curriculum, but only 20.7% test for competency and 58.6% oppose a national ECG examination.