FES Iztacala undergraduate students’ perception on clinical training course for ECG’s test performing

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, clinical simulation has gained ground as a teaching method within the healthcare area, it replicates real-life situations which allows procedures to be practiced repeatedly while learning the correct methodology; this causes a reduction in errors and improves clinical results, benefiting patient safety. The objective of this work is to know students’ perception on the clinical training course for ECG’s test performance (provided by CISESVI) and its influence on the development of students' clinical skills.

Methodology: A survey for the students on clinical rotations was carried out in Google Forms aiming to know first-hand their opinions on the effect that the “ECG test performing course” has on their clinical training.

Results: 47 responses were obtained (28 students from clinic I, 5 from clinic II and III, and 9 from clinic IV). Based on the total sample size, 76.6% of the participants took the training while 23.4% did not. 100% of the students who received it said they felt more confident doing the procedure, as well as applying the systematic method that they were instructed in, which they have shared with their peers in their hospitals. On the other hand, 81.8% of the students who did not take the training, considered that it would have been useful in their clinical practice, since 36.4% do not know the protocol when taking an electrocardiogram.

Discussion and conclusions: Since the quantity of electrocardiograms performed by students who attended the training is considerably higher compared to those who did not attend, we can argue that simulation boosts students’ self-confidence and allows them to become proactive in their daily activities.