Interpretation of electrocardiograms--a blinded controlled study
Bisgaard, T.; Riahi, S.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 170(51): 4230-4233
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 1603-6824 PMID: 19128556 Document Number: 621507
Accurate interpretation of electrocardiograms (ECG) is a challenging skill. There are no comparative data on diagnostic ECG skills between orthopaedic surgeons and physicians. Controlled prospective and blinded multi-centre study including 30 orthopaedic surgeons and 30 physicians. A validated structured questionnaire including five blinded examples of ECG was answered by all participants. The ECG skills were significantly poorer in the orthopaedic group than in the group of internal physicians. Thus, ECG scores were median two (range 0-5) and four (2-5) and the total scores were 71 and 124 (p < 0.01) in the orthopaedic and physician group, respectively. The orthopaedic group consisted of two females and 28 males versus 13 females and 17 males in the internal physician group (p < 0.01). There were no significant intergroup differences for any other variables registered (p > 0.05). Educational programs and enrollment of more female orthopaedic surgeons may enhance ECG skills in the orthopaedic surgical community.