title: Assessment of competency in electrocardiogram interpretation of graduating physician assistant students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the competency in electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation of the 2011 physician assistant (PA) class at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey and 22-item ECG examination were completed by 51 students prior to graduation. Six strips were critical ECGs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The students scored 50.7% on the 22 ECGs and 68.0% on the six critical ECGs. Students who were more confident regarding their ability to accurately interpret ECGs and those who took a cardiology elective performed statistically significantly better on the 22 ECG examination (P = .005 and P = .032 respectively) but not on the six critical ECGs (P = .130 and P = .132 respectively). There were no significant associations between scores on either the 22 ECGs or six critical ECGs and students' perceived sufficiency of ECG training and desire for more ECG training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The students' overall scores indicate the need for improved training in ECG interpretation skills.
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Lundberg
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stagnaro-Green
authors.forename: Yilong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: LeLacheur
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jablonover
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004219:District of Columbia; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*