ECG Bootcamp - A Novel Emergency Medicine Small Group Session

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Cardiology

Background:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation is a critical skill for emergency medicine (EM) residents, yet standardized curricula are often lacking.
• The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) mandates ECG interpretation competency for residency graduation.
• A gap exists in standardized ECG training and competency testing within EM programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an innovative, gamified curriculum called "ECG Bootcamp" to enhance ECG interpretation skills in EM residents.
• To address the need for standardized, engaging, and effective ECG training in graduate medical education.
• To improve learner engagement and knowledge retention in critical cardiac pathology.

Main Methods:

• The "ECG Bootcamp" utilized gamification principles within small group sessions to foster interactive learning.
• The curriculum featured six stations with competitive games and a simulation case, incorporating spaced learning.
• Learners engaged with ECG concepts through various modalities, including trivia and association games.

Main Results:

• A post-participation survey with 18 respondents showed 100% satisfaction with the small group game sessions and simulation case.
• All respondents rated the educational content and delivery method a 10 out of 10 on effectiveness.
• Qualitative feedback further supported the efficacy of the gamified approach.

Conclusions:

• The "ECG Bootcamp" provides an effective, reproducible model for improving ECG interpretation training in EM residency programs.
• Gamification and interactive learning enhance engagement and knowledge retention compared to traditional lecture formats.
• The framework can be adapted to other clinical topics to create dynamic learning environments in medical education.