Evaluation of a computer based package on electrocardiography.

BACKGROUND Opportunities for interactive learning in electrocardiography are limited--particularly at postgraduate level. In medical education, increasing use is being made of the electronic medium and various materials have been developed to improve clinicians' skills. AIMS To test and evaluate the learning of electrocardiography among health professionals. METHODS A software package, containing a tutorial on electrocardiography and a self-assessment programme of 140 electrocardiograms (ECGs) was constructed. Seventy-two health professionals were recruited into the study and tested before and after the study period. Participants were randomly allocated to one of three groups: control (no study material), tutorial or computer. The tutorial group participated in a series of tutorials and the computer group were provided with a CD-ROM containing study material for them to use in their own time. The results were assessed for statistical significance between all groups using analysis of variance techniques. RESULTS Sixty-one individuals completed the study. Each of the three groups was pre and post tested on their knowledge of electrocardiography and their ability to interpret ECGs. The computer group was the only group to achieve a significant increase in performance in their knowledge on electrocardiography and in their ability to interpret ECGs. CONCLUSIONS Suitably structured computer programmes are effective in helping clinicians understand electrocardiography and interpret ECGs.