Electrocardiography interpretation competency among pediatric and child health residents at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

Abstract Background Electrocardiography (ECG) interpretation competency is vital to ensure the timely initiation of life-saving treatment for emergent ECG conditions. This competency has not been well-studied among pediatric and child health residents. Hence, the study aimed to determine the compete...

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Main Authors: Helen Mintesnot, Henok Tadele, Hayat Ahmed, Tamirat Moges, Etsegenet Gedlu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Medical Education
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06614-5
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author Helen Mintesnot
Henok Tadele
Hayat Ahmed
Tamirat Moges
Etsegenet Gedlu
author_facet Helen Mintesnot
Henok Tadele
Hayat Ahmed
Tamirat Moges
Etsegenet Gedlu
author_sort Helen Mintesnot
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Electrocardiography (ECG) interpretation competency is vital to ensure the timely initiation of life-saving treatment for emergent ECG conditions. This competency has not been well-studied among pediatric and child health residents. Hence, the study aimed to determine the competency in ECG interpretation and its predictors among residents at the National University of Ethiopia. Methods This cross-sectional study employed standard ECG Wave-Maven strips, a web-based ECG self-assessment tool. The association between dependent and independent variables was tested using a chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test. Results The study included 95 residents with male dominance, 61.1%. The median age of study participants was 29 years (IQR: 28–30). The median service years before residency enrollment was 2 years (IQR:1–3). More than half, 51.6%, received 1–3 hours of ECG lectures. ECG training insufficiency was reported by 75.8% of participants. Residents were not confident in their ECG readings,65.3%. The majority,67.3%, partially or totally relied on computer-generated ECG (C-ECG) reports during ECG interpretation. The majority ordered up to 5 ECGs per month, 75.8% and sought consultation for ECG reading most of the time, 58.9%. Common emergent ECG conditions were rarely diagnosed correctly: long QTC syndrome, 42.1%; Complete heart block (CHB), 10.5%; supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), 9.5%; ventricular tachycardia, 8.4% and hyperkalemia, 4.2%. Young residents, 29 years or less, diagnosed sinus rhythm correctly, p = 0.017. Year I and II residents correctly diagnosed sinus arrhythmia, p = 0.001. CHB diagnosis was associated with the use of C-ECG reports, p = 0.011. SVT diagnosis was associated resident’s juniority, p = 0.018 and the number of monthly ECG orders, p = 0.018. Atrial fibrillation diagnosis was associated with the service years before residency enrollment, p = 0.046. The diagnosis of acute pericarditis was associated with monthly resident’s ECG orders, p = 0.034. Conclusion In this study, three-fourths of pediatric and child health residents reported insufficient ECG training during their residency. They were not confident in their ECG readings. ECG diagnosis of common life-threatening conditions was missed. Resident’s age, year of residency, monthly ECG orders, service years before residency enrollment and reliance on C-ECG reports predicted the correct diagnosis of an ECG abnormality or rhythm. Well-designed and structured urgent ECG training sessions are required to fill this gap among the residents.
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spelling doaj-art-64b1148151344a098f4548f2f360c6d62025-01-05T12:33:45ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202024-12-012411710.1186/s12909-024-06614-5Electrocardiography interpretation competency among pediatric and child health residents at Addis Ababa University, EthiopiaHelen Mintesnot0Henok Tadele1Hayat Ahmed2Tamirat Moges3Etsegenet Gedlu4Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa UniversityAbstract Background Electrocardiography (ECG) interpretation competency is vital to ensure the timely initiation of life-saving treatment for emergent ECG conditions. This competency has not been well-studied among pediatric and child health residents. Hence, the study aimed to determine the competency in ECG interpretation and its predictors among residents at the National University of Ethiopia. Methods This cross-sectional study employed standard ECG Wave-Maven strips, a web-based ECG self-assessment tool. The association between dependent and independent variables was tested using a chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test. Results The study included 95 residents with male dominance, 61.1%. The median age of study participants was 29 years (IQR: 28–30). The median service years before residency enrollment was 2 years (IQR:1–3). More than half, 51.6%, received 1–3 hours of ECG lectures. ECG training insufficiency was reported by 75.8% of participants. Residents were not confident in their ECG readings,65.3%. The majority,67.3%, partially or totally relied on computer-generated ECG (C-ECG) reports during ECG interpretation. The majority ordered up to 5 ECGs per month, 75.8% and sought consultation for ECG reading most of the time, 58.9%. Common emergent ECG conditions were rarely diagnosed correctly: long QTC syndrome, 42.1%; Complete heart block (CHB), 10.5%; supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), 9.5%; ventricular tachycardia, 8.4% and hyperkalemia, 4.2%. Young residents, 29 years or less, diagnosed sinus rhythm correctly, p = 0.017. Year I and II residents correctly diagnosed sinus arrhythmia, p = 0.001. CHB diagnosis was associated with the use of C-ECG reports, p = 0.011. SVT diagnosis was associated resident’s juniority, p = 0.018 and the number of monthly ECG orders, p = 0.018. Atrial fibrillation diagnosis was associated with the service years before residency enrollment, p = 0.046. The diagnosis of acute pericarditis was associated with monthly resident’s ECG orders, p = 0.034. Conclusion In this study, three-fourths of pediatric and child health residents reported insufficient ECG training during their residency. They were not confident in their ECG readings. ECG diagnosis of common life-threatening conditions was missed. Resident’s age, year of residency, monthly ECG orders, service years before residency enrollment and reliance on C-ECG reports predicted the correct diagnosis of an ECG abnormality or rhythm. Well-designed and structured urgent ECG training sessions are required to fill this gap among the residents.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06614-5ElectrocardiographyPediatric residentsPostgraduateResidencyTrainingMedical education
spellingShingle Helen Mintesnot
Henok Tadele
Hayat Ahmed
Tamirat Moges
Etsegenet Gedlu
Electrocardiography interpretation competency among pediatric and child health residents at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
BMC Medical Education
Electrocardiography
Pediatric residents
Postgraduate
Residency
Training
Medical education
title Electrocardiography interpretation competency among pediatric and child health residents at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
title_full Electrocardiography interpretation competency among pediatric and child health residents at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
title_fullStr Electrocardiography interpretation competency among pediatric and child health residents at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Electrocardiography interpretation competency among pediatric and child health residents at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
title_short Electrocardiography interpretation competency among pediatric and child health residents at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
title_sort electrocardiography interpretation competency among pediatric and child health residents at addis ababa university ethiopia
topic Electrocardiography
Pediatric residents
Postgraduate
Residency
Training
Medical education
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06614-5
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AT hayatahmed electrocardiographyinterpretationcompetencyamongpediatricandchildhealthresidentsataddisababauniversityethiopia
AT tamiratmoges electrocardiographyinterpretationcompetencyamongpediatricandchildhealthresidentsataddisababauniversityethiopia
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