Retention of Baseline Electrocardiographic Knowledge After a Blended-Learning Course

Abstract

Background Among nurses, skill retention after an electrocardiography blended-learning course is unknown. Objectives To compare 3-and 8-week electrocardiography test scores, compare scores by nurse and work characteristics and self-assessed electrocardiographic competence, and compare 1-year work retention with 3-and 8-week scores and change in scores from week 3 to week 8. Methods Data were collected on demographics, comfort with electrocardiography expectations, electrocardiography competence levels, and 1-year work retention. Correlational and comparative statistics were used in analyses. Results Of 69 nurses, 58% were somewhat comfortable with interventions for abnormal rhythms. Test scores were higher at 3 weeks than at 8 weeks: mean difference, 26%; P < .001. Scores at 8 weeks reflected intermediate skill retention and were not associated with nurse characteristics, electrocardiography background, comfort with rhythms and measurements, or 1-year work retention. Nurses with greater comfort for intervening when rhythm abnormalities occurred had higher median 8-week scores (P = .01) than did nurses with less comfort, and perceptions of electrocardiographic competence were associated with 8-week scores (r = 0.28; P = .02). Reduction in scores at 8 weeks was less severe in nurses with greater comfort at 3 weeks in measuring electrocardiographic intervals (P = .008) and applying therapeutic interventions (P = .009). Conclusions Skill retention and competence in electrocardiographic interpretation were intermediate and correlated with baseline self-assessment. Electrocardiographic interpretation, measurement, and interventions should be reinforced at the bedside.

Association of Implementation of Practice Standards for Electrocardiographic Monitoring With Nurses’ Knowledge, Quality of Care, and Patient Outcomes

“…Classroom, online, and a blending of both have all shown improvement in ECG knowledge. 19-23 Unlike previous research that focused on 12-lead ECG and arrhythmia interpretation, we addressed continuous ECG monitoring and included ST-segment and QTc monitoring.…”

Knowledge and Practices among Nurses Regarding Patients’ Care Following Cardiac Catheterization at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan

“…A total of 34 nurses (48%) had adequate knowledge in identifying the abnormal ECG rhythms, 28 had inadequate knowledge, whereas, only eight nurses had excellent knowledge. On the contrary, the study [17], reported that 43 participants (out of 69) were comfortable in identifying the abnormal ECG rhythms. However, in this study, it is indicated that nurses had limited knowledge regarding ischemia monitoring on the ECG and had a room for improvement in this regard.…”

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“…Os demais dados estão demonstrados na Tabela 1. Em relação à caracterização da amostra estudada, este estudo assemelha-se a outros previamente publicados (9)(10) . Houve maior proporção de profissionais do sexo feminino, jovens e com formação recente.…”

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