Physician attitudes about prehospital 12-lead ECGs in chest pain patients.
BACKGROUND
The prehospital 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) has become a standard of care. For the prehospital 12-lead ECG to be useful clinically, however, cardiologists and emergency physicians (EP) must view the test as useful. This study measured physician attitudes about the prehospital 12-lead ECG.


OBJECTIVE
This study tested the hypothesis that physicians had "no opinion" regarding the prehospital 12-lead ECG.


METHODS
An anonymous survey was conducted to measure EP and cardiologist attitudes toward prehospital 12-lead ECGs. Hypothesis tests against "no opinion" (VAS = 50 mm) were made with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and intergroup comparisons were made with the Student's t-test.


RESULTS
Seventy-one of 87 (81.6%) surveys were returned. Twenty-five (67.6%) cardiologists responded and 45 (90%) EPs responded. Both groups of physicians viewed prehospital 12-lead ECGs as beneficial (mean = 69 mm; 95% CI = 65-74 mm). All physicians perceived that ECGs positively influence preparation of staff (mean = 63 mm; 95% CI = 60-72 mm) and that ECGs transmitted to hospitals would be beneficial (mean = 66 mm; 95% CI = 60-72 mm). Cardiologists had more favorable opinions than did EPs. The ability of paramedics to interpret ECGs was not seen as important (mean = 50 mm; 95% CI = 43-56 mm). The justifiable increase in field time was perceived to be 3.2 minutes (95% CI = 2.7-3.8 minutes), with 23 (32.8%) preferring that it be done on scene, 46 (65.7%) during transport, and one (1.4%) not at all.


CONCLUSIONS
Prehospital 12-lead ECGs generally are perceived as worthwhile by cardiologists and EPs. Cardiologists have a higher opinion of the value and utility of field ECGs. Since the reduction in mortality from the 12-lead ECG is small, it is likely that positive physician attitudes are attributable to other factors.
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D015206:Southwestern United States