title: Improving ECG Competence in Medical Trainees in a UK District General Hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Competency in electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation is central to undergraduate and postgraduate clinical training. Studies have demonstrated ECGs are interpreted sub-optimally. Our study compares the effectiveness of two learning strategies to improve competence and confidence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 1-month prospective randomized study compared the strategies in two cohorts: undergraduate third year medical students and postgraduate foundation year one (FY1) doctors. Both had blinded randomization to one of these learning strategies: focused teaching program (FTP) and self-directed learning (SDL). All volunteers completed a confidence questionnaire before and after allocation learning strategy and an ECG recognition multiple choice question (MCQ) paper at the end of the learning period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FTP group of undergraduates demonstrated a significant difference in successfully interpreting "ventricular tachycardia" (P = 0.046) and "narrow complex tachycardia" (P = 0.009) than the SDL group. Participant confidence increased in both learning strategies. FTP confidence demonstrated a greater improvement than SDL for both cohorts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A dedicated teaching program can improve trainee confidence and competence in ECG interpretation. A larger benefit is observed in undergraduates and those undertaking a FTP.
authors.affiliation: Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, WR5 1DD, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McAloon
authors.affiliation: Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, WR5 1DD, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leach
authors.affiliation: Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, WR5 1DD, UK.
authors.forename: Simrat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.affiliation: Birmingham Heartlands Hospital NHS Trust, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, B9 5SS, UK.
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aluwalia
authors.affiliation: Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, WR5 1DD, UK.
authors.forename: Jasper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trevelyan
keywords: Competence; Confidence; ECG; Interpretation; Training