title: Educational technology improves ECG interpretation of acute myocardial infarction among medical students and emergency medicine residents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asynchronous online training has become an increasingly popular educational format in the new era of technology-based professional development. We sought to evaluate the impact of an online asynchronous training module on the ability of medical students and emergency medicine (EM) residents to detect electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed an online ECG training and testing module on AMI, with emphasis on recognizing ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI) and early activation of cardiac catheterization resources. Study participants included senior medical students and EM residents at all post-graduate levels rotating in our emergency department (ED). Participants were given a baseline set of ECGs for interpretation. This was followed by a brief interactive online training module on normal ECGs as well as abnormal ECGs representing an acute MI. Participants then underwent a post-test with a set of ECGs in which they had to interpret and decide appropriate intervention including catheterization lab activation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  148 students and 35 EM residents participated in this training in the 2012-2013 academic year. Students and EM residents showed significant improvements in recognizing ECG abnormalities after taking the asynchronous online training module. The mean score on the testing module for students improved from 5.9 (95% CI [5.7-6.1]) to 7.3 (95% CI [7.1-7.5]), with a mean difference of 1.4 (95% CI [1.12-1.68]) (p<0.0001). The mean score for residents improved significantly from 6.5 (95% CI [6.2-6.9]) to 7.8 (95% CI [7.4-8.2]) (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An online interactive module of training improved the ability of medical students and EM residents to correctly recognize the ECG evidence of an acute MI.
authors: George Washington University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Pourmand
authors: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Tanski
authors: George Washington University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Davis
authors: George Washington University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors: Hamid
authors: H
authors: Shokoohi
authors: George Washington University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors: Raymond
authors: R
authors: Lucas
authors: George Washington University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors: Fareen
authors: F
authors: Zaver
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004219:District of Columbia; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis