Electrocardiogram interpretation competency among emergency nurses and emergency medical service (EMS) personnel: A cross‐sectional and comparative descriptive study

Rahimpour, Maryam; Shahbazi, Shahla; Ghafourifard, Mansour; Gilani, Neda; Breen, Cathal

Abstract

Aims
The aim of this research study was to compare electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation competency among emergency nurses and EMS personnel.

Design
A cross-sectional comparative descriptive study design was used.

Methods
This study recruited 170 participants (105 emergency nurses and 65 EMS personnel) in northwest of Iran. Data were collected during 2018 using ECG, an interpretation competency questionnaire and analysed using SPSS V.24 through independent t test, linear regression, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficient. A statistical significance of p < .05 was assumed.

Results
The study results showed a mean score of 6.65 ± 2.16 out of 10 for emergency nurses' and 4.87 ± 1.81 for EMS personnel ECG interpretation competency (p < .05).

Conclusions
Hospital emergency nurses were more qualified to interpret the ECG than the pre-hospital emergency medical personnel (p = .792 and β (SE)) = 0.22 (0.84). Active involvement in ECG interpretation and standard continued education are needed to develop and improve the emergency nurses and EMS personnel ECG interpretation competency.

Citation

Rahimpour, M., Shahbazi, S., Ghafourifard, M., Gilani, N., & Breen, C. (2021). Electrocardiogram interpretation competency among emergency nurses and emergency medical service (EMS) personnel: A cross‐sectional and comparative descriptive study. Nursing Open, 8(4), 1712-1719. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.809

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 31, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Feb 21, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Deposit Date: Nov 3, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 3, 2022
• Journal: Nursing Open
• Print ISSN: 2054-1058
• Electronic ISSN: 2054-1058
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 1712-1719
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.809
• Keywords: ECG interpretation competency, electrocardiography, emergency medical services personnel, emergency nursing, nurses
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2947851
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/nop2.809