Electrocardiogram Interpretation Competency of Medical Interns in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

To determine the competence of medical interns in Saudi Arabia in interpreting common ECG abnormalities, explore limitations, and facilitate solutions to the development of ECG interpretation skills in Saudi Arabia. MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted from 11 June 2022 to 3 November 2022 using the convenience stratified sampling technique among 373 medical interns (54.4% male and 45.6% female) in 15 medical colleges within Saudi Arabia. ResultsAlmost all (91.7%) of the participants recognized the basic ECG elements, as they correctly identified normal ECG patterns. The most well-understood ECG pathologies were ventricular fibrillation, atrial fibrillation, and acute myocardial infarction, which were accurately interpreted by 69.2%, 67.8%, and 61.9% of the participants, respectively. The least understood ECG result was a pathological Q wave, which only 20.9% recognized. Most (63.5%) participants attributed their challenges in ECG interpretation to their inadequate training in college, and 57.4% of them stated that practical case-based training could best facilitate the improvement of their skills in ECG interpretation. ConclusionMost of the participants showed unsatisfactory performance in ECG interpretation. Despite their completion of advanced cardiac life support courses, their overall performance did not improve significantly. Most of them believed that their colleges did not adequately train them to read ECGs. Thus, a majority think case-based training is a key strategy for improving their ECG interpretation skills.

Virtual Reality Simulation for the Acquisition and Retention of Electrocardiogram Interpretation Skills: A Randomized Controlled Trial Among Undergraduate Medical Students

“…A study done at one of the medical schools in Poland also demonstrated that medical students have a good level of competency in interpreting normal ECG, but they lack the desired competency level to interpret abnormal ECG [5]. Another study by Jablonover et al and Al Mousa et al also showed a similar result among medical students [6,7].…”

“…A study done at a medical school in New Zealand among finalyear medical students and residents did not achieve the required competency to interpret different clinical conditions in ECG [1]. This trend was seen across the globe in various other studies [4][5][6][7]. A meta-analysis by Cook et al found that physicians at all levels had deficiencies in interpreting ECG [8].…”

“…Case-based training of ECG is another method that has shown a positive effect on acquiring knowledge on the interpretation of ECG [6,14]. A recent meta-analysis by Ardekani et al [15] concluded that training students to interpret ECG should utilize novel and creative methods.…”

Electrocardiographic interpretation by emergency medical services professionals in Saudi Arabia: A cross sectional study

“…Across 427 medical students from Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia, the ventricular extrasystole and pathological Q wave were not identified by nearly 75.1% of the participants [ 15 ]. Medical interns were also not able to correctly diagnose patients with such rhythms (75.7%) in a study carried out across 14 medical universities in Saudi Arabia [ 16 ]. Conversely, our finding differs from that reported in the Iran region.…”