Training and assessment of ECG interpretation skills: results from the 2005 CDIM survey

Despite published consensus-based statements on assessment of ECG interpretation skills, studies and curricula regarding the training needed to obtain basic ECG interpretation skills are lacking. These consensus statements have focused on attaining competency in ECG interpretation during postgraduate training; however, recommendations regarding assessment of competency in the undergraduate curriculum are not discussed.

The purpose is to describe the current methods of teaching and assessing ECG interpretation skills across institutions on the 3rd-year internal medicine (IM) clerkship.

In 2005, the Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine surveyed its institutional members. Twelve questions on the survey dealt with ECG interpretation. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and Mann-Whitney U were used for analysis.

Eighty-eight of 109 members (81%) responded to the survey. Overall, 89% of institutional respondents feel that ECG interpretation is an important clinical skill for medical students with 92% indicating that instruction occurs on the IM clerkship. Lectures (75%) and teaching rounds (44%) were the most cited methods of instruction. Most schools spend 1 to 6 hr during the IM clerkship on formal ECG instruction. Over 63% indicated that ECG interpretation skills are assessed during the clerkship. The most common assessment methods were written exam (40%) and OSCE (23%).

Objective data regarding attainment and assessment of basic ECG interpretation competency in the undergraduate curriculum are lacking; our report provides preliminary descriptive data regarding ECG teaching and assessment on the 3rd-year IM clerkship. Further studies are needed to determine the ideal method of instruction and evaluation of this important clinical skill.