Dimitrios P Varvaroussis1, Maria Kalafati2, Paraskevi Pliatsika1, Maaret Castrén3, Carsten Lott4, Theodoros Xanthos5. 1. MSc Program Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece. 2. University of Athens, Faculty of Nursing, Greece. 3. Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Science and Education and Section of Emergency Medicine, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. 4. Dept. of Anesthesiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Germany. 5. MSc Program Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece. Electronic address: theodorosxanthos@yahoo.com.
Abstract
AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the six-stage method (SSM) for instructing primary cardiac arrhythmias interpretation to students without basic electrocardiogram (ECG) knowledge with a descriptive teaching method in a single educational intervention. METHODS: This is a randomized trial. Following a brief instructional session, undergraduate nursing students, assigned to group A (SSM) and group B (descriptive teaching method), undertook a written test in cardiac rhythm recognition, immediately after the educational intervention (initial exam). Participants were also examined with an unannounced retention test (final exam), one month after instruction. Altogether 134 students completed the study. Interpretation accuracy for each cardiac arrhythmia was assessed. RESULTS:Mean score at the initial exam was 8.71±1.285 for group A and 8.74±1.303 for group B. Mean score at the final exam was 8.25±1.46 for group A vs 7.84±1.44 for group B. Overall results showed that the SSM was equally effective with the descriptive teaching method. The study showed that in each group bradyarrhythmias were identified correctly by more students than tachyarrhythmias. No significant difference between the two teaching methods was seen for any specific cardiac arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS: The SSM effectively develops staff competency for interpreting common cardiac arrhythmias in students without ECG knowledge. More research is needed to support this conclusion and the method's effectiveness must be evaluated if being implemented to trainee groups with preexisting basic ECG interpretation knowledge.
RCT Entities:
AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the six-stage method (SSM) for instructing primary cardiac arrhythmias interpretation to students without basic electrocardiogram (ECG) knowledge with a descriptive teaching method in a single educational intervention. METHODS: This is a randomized trial. Following a brief instructional session, undergraduate nursing students, assigned to group A (SSM) and group B (descriptive teaching method), undertook a written test in cardiac rhythm recognition, immediately after the educational intervention (initial exam). Participants were also examined with an unannounced retention test (final exam), one month after instruction. Altogether 134 students completed the study. Interpretation accuracy for each cardiac arrhythmia was assessed. RESULTS: Mean score at the initial exam was 8.71±1.285 for group A and 8.74±1.303 for group B. Mean score at the final exam was 8.25±1.46 for group A vs 7.84±1.44 for group B. Overall results showed that the SSM was equally effective with the descriptive teaching method. The study showed that in each group bradyarrhythmias were identified correctly by more students than tachyarrhythmias. No significant difference between the two teaching methods was seen for any specific cardiac arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS: The SSM effectively develops staff competency for interpreting common cardiac arrhythmias in students without ECG knowledge. More research is needed to support this conclusion and the method's effectiveness must be evaluated if being implemented to trainee groups with preexisting basic ECG interpretation knowledge.
Authors: Zachary R Noel; Craig J Beavers; Steven P Dunn; Anne Marie Schullo-Feulner; Lauren Caldas; Dave L Dixon Journal: Am J Pharm Educ Date: 2018-12 Impact factor: 2.047
Authors: Marjorie Funk; Kristopher P Fennie; Kimberly E Stephens; Jeanine L May; Catherine G Winkler; Barbara J Drew Journal: Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes Date: 2017-02