Nationwide Evaluation of an Eight-Week Interactive Online Electrocardiogram Training Program for Nurses: A Quasi-experimental Approach

TL;DR

An eight-week online ECG training program significantly improved nurses' knowledge and arrhythmia identification skills.

Contribution

The study demonstrates the effectiveness of an online ECG training program for nurses using a quasi-experimental design.

Findings

Participants showed significant improvement in ECG knowledge from a mean pre-test score of 12.30 to 17.42.

The proportion of poor performers in arrhythmia identification dropped from 46.9% to 5.8% after the training.

Improvement in ECG skills was not associated with demographic variables of the participants.

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular deaths are the leading cause of mortality. Early ECG diagnosis and preventive measures could prevent mortality through timely intervention. Nurses as healthcare professionals can interpret and prompt early management of life-threatening arrhythmias.

Objective: The present study aimed to provide an eight-week certificate course titled the Electrocardiogram Capacity Building Program for Nurses and assess their knowledge of ECG, arrhythmia management, and ECG interpretation skills following the learning activity.

Materials and methods: A quasi-experimental research design was selected. Eighty subjects were enrolled after a random allocation by a computer-generated randomization, and 16 hours of teaching and learning activity were carried out using an online platform. Pre-tests and post-tests were obtained using a standardized questionnaire.

Results: Significant differences were observed between pre-test and post-test scores regarding participants' (N = 76) knowledge of ECGs and their ability to identify arrhythmias. A significant improvement was noted in knowledge of the ECG from a mean pre-test score of 12.30 ± 3.51 to a post-test score of 17.42 ± 3.64. After attending the course, the number of poor performers in ECG rhythm identification dropped sharply from 36 (46.9%) to 4 (5.8%), while the number of good performers improved from 3 (4.6%) to 30 (39%).

Conclusion: No statistically significant association was found between the effectiveness of online training and demographic variables of the participants.

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