[Interpretation of electrocardiograms--a blinded controlled study].
BACKGROUND
Accurate interpretation of electrocardiograms (ECG) is a challenging skill. There are no comparative data on diagnostic ECG skills between orthopaedic surgeons and physicians.


METHODS
Controlled prospective and blinded multi-centre study including 30 orthopaedic surgeons and 30 physicians. A validated structured questionnaire including five blinded examples of ECG was answered by all participants.


RESULTS
The ECG skills were significantly poorer in the orthopaedic group than in the group of internal physicians. Thus, ECG scores were median two (range 0-5) and four (2-5) and the total scores were 71 and 124 (p < 0.01) in the orthopaedic and physician group, respectively. The orthopaedic group consisted of two females and 28 males versus 13 females and 17 males in the internal physician group (p < 0.01). There were no significant intergroup differences for any other variables registered (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Educational programs and enrollment of more female orthopaedic surgeons may enhance ECG skills in the orthopaedic surgical community.
Bisgaard
Thue
T
General Bahnsons Vej 1, DK-2000 Frederiksberg. thuebisgaard@tdcadsl.dk.
Riahi
Sam
S
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D009985:Orthopedics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires