Improvement of electrocardiogram interpretation skills through a workshop with clinical simulation

Abstract

Background: in electrocardiography it is important to have the ability to interpret, as well as confidence to achieve an accurate definition in diagnosis and treatment.
Objective: to implement a workshop using clinical simulation based learning for electrocardiogram interpretation.
Methods: a descriptive and longitudinal study was carried out at the Faculty of Medicine of Mexico National Autonomous University, during 2018. Theoretical methods were used: analysis-synthesis and induction-deduction; and empirical: a survey and an electrocardiogram interpretation test before and after the applied workshop.
Results: in the evaluation on the identification of the electrocardiogram there was a meaningful improvement after the workshop was carried out in aspects such as: the interpretation of the rhythm, of the cardiac axis, of waves and in the assignment of diagnoses in a shorter time according to the posttest. The difference in results was observed both in confidence, skills obtained, resolution of doubts and reflexive learning focused on the genesis of each aspect of the electrocardiogram, which allowed the working team to locate them as key points in the acquisition of practical and intellectual skills.
Conclusions: the implementation of the workshop allowed a meaningful improvement in the students' abilities to interpret the electrocardiogram, which caused them to feel more confident in their assessments; so the effectiveness of its application was evidenced.