title: [Computer-based interpretation of ECG--guiding or misleading?].
abstract: Computerised ECG diagnostic programs occasionally provide erratic diagnoses, and false diagnostic suggestions may mislead the physician. We wanted to investigate whether a diagnostic computer program guides or misleads the ECG interpretation in the emergency room. A panel of 20 first-line physicians from the Medical Department at Ullevål Hospital, Oslo, Norway each described sets of ten ECGs, composed from a selection of ten excellent and ten wrong computer interpretations, randomly with or without the print-out of this diagnosis. The presence of correct computer diagnosis resulted in 58% correct conclusions by the physicians, against 30% in the absence of the computers conclusions (p < 0.005). Whether an incorrect computer diagnosis was provided or not, did not significantly influence the physicians' conclusions. Among the physicians, the best performing third benefitted most from the presence of a good computer interpretation, whereas the poor performers did not even recognise the help provided. Computer-based ECG diagnoses seem to be helpful to emergency ward physicians, but a certain level of ECG experience is required to utilise the program.
authors.affiliation: Kirurgisk avdeling, Innherred sykehus, Levanger.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morisbak
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gjesdal
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003657:Decision Making; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006327:Heart Block / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012984:Software