The Impact of Training Program on Nurse's Knowledge and Skills of Myocardial Infarction Screening by Using Electrocardiogram

A nurse is usually the one who faces electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation; thus, there is a need to increase knowledge and skills of nurses on doing and interpreting the electrocardiogram. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of training program on the knowledge and skills of nursing staff regarding screening of myocardial infarction by using 12-lead ECG. A descriptive case-control study design with comparison groups (intervention and control) was performed in 4 hospitals at Sudan. Two hospitals were selected randomly as intervention group, and the another 2 was the control group. Data collection was taken pre- and posttraining program for both groups, followed by posttest evaluation (late posttest) after 3 months for intervention group only, using same structured knowledge questionnaire and direct observation checklist to assess the nurse's skills. The baseline scores at the pretest revealed that there was no significant difference between intervention and control groups. After the training program, the score increased for the intervention group 22.94 compared with the control group 12.64 (P < .001). The same reported for the skill scores, where it was 25.52 for the intervention group and 16.12 for the control group (P < .001). Three months later, the second posttest showed as well significant differences from the baseline for the intervention group in the knowledge score (M = 20.42, P < .001) and the skills score (M = 24.64, P < .001). The study showed poor knowledge and skills among nurses regarding screening of myocardial infarction by using electrocardiogram at the pretest. The training program was effective in improving their knowledge and skills.