Study characteristic | All | Students | Residents | |||
N studies | N participants | N studies | N participants | N studies | N participants | |
All studies that met eligibility criteria | ||||||
All studies included | 13 | 1328 | 12 | 1242 | 2 | 86 |
Study design | ||||||
Randomised control trial | 9 | 950 | 8 | 864 | 2 | 86 |
Prospective cohort study | 4 | 378 | 4 | 378 | 0 | 0 |
Face-to-face teaching compared with | ||||||
Blended learning (CAI with face-to-face teaching) | 4 | 457 | 4 | 457 | 0 | 0 |
CAI alone | 9 | 871 | 8 | 785 | 2 | 86 |
Frequency of exposure to teaching method | ||||||
Massed instruction | 3 | 267 | 3 | 220 | 1 | 47 |
Distributed instruction | 9 | 861 | 8 | 822 | 1 | 39 |
Unknown | 1 | 200 | 1 | 200 | 0 | 0 |
Computer-assisted instruction | ||||||
Online | 7 | 658 | 6 | 619 | 1 | 39 |
Offline | 5 | 470 | 5 | 423 | 1 | 47 |
Not specified | 1 | 200 | 1 | 200 | 0 | 0 |
Learning material as presented by CAI | ||||||
Real patient 12-lead ECGs | 10 | 982 | 9 | 896 | 2 | 86 |
Case scenarios | 4 | 378 | 3 | 339 | 1 | 39 |
Text | 8 | 908 | 8 | 861 | 1 | 47 |
Images | 2 | 110 | 2 | 110 | 0 | 0 |
Animations | 3 | 253 | 3 | 206 | 1 | 47 |
Self-administered assessment with feedback | 8 | 637 | 7 | 598 | 1 | 39 |
Chat rooms | 2 | 279 | 2 | 279 | 0 | 0 |
Unspecified | 2 | 307 | 2 | 307 | 0 | 0 |
ECGs taught | ||||||
Basic principles | 8 | 718 | 7 | 632 | 2 | 86 |
Normal ECG | 5 | 707 | 5 | 660 | 1 | 47 |
Bradyarrhythmias | 5 | 579 | 4 | 493 | 2 | 86 |
Tachyarrhythmias | 5 | 579 | 4 | 493 | 2 | 86 |
Arrhythmias (unspecified) | 2 | 288 | 2 | 288 | 0 | 0 |
Chamber enlargement | 5 | 637 | 5 | 590 | 1 | 47 |
Acute coronary syndromes | 7 | 867 | 6 | 781 | 2 | 86 |
Pericarditis | 3 | 288 | 3 | 288 | 0 | 0 |
Metabolic abnormalities | 7 | 867 | 6 | 781 | 2 | 86 |
Drug effects | 2 | 264 | 2 | 264 | 0 | 0 |
Not specified | 4 | 362 | 4 | 362 | 0 | 0 |
Testing ECG knowledge and/or competence | ||||||
Pre-test* | 6 | 718 | 5 | 679 | 1 | 39 |
Post-test† | 13 | 1328 | 12 | 1242 | 2 | 86 |
Delayed post-test‡ | 1 | 168 | 1 | 121 | 1 | 47 |
Method of testing | ||||||
Multiple choice questions | 5 | 544 | 4 | 458 | 2 | 86 |
Short answer questions | 5 | 639 | 5 | 639 | 0 | 0 |
Not specified | 3 | 310 | 3 | 310 | 0 | 0 |
The modified Kirkpatrick’s framework for the evaluation of educational interventions | ||||||
Level 1§ | 8 | 864 | 8 | 817 | 1 | 47 |
Level 2a¶ | 3 | 398 | 3 | 351 | 1 | 47 |
Level 2b** | 13 | 1328 | 12 | 1242 | 2 | 86 |
*Assessment of the baseline ECG knowledge and/or competence before the educational intervention has taken place;
†Assessment of the acquisition of ECG knowledge and/or competence after the educational intervention has taken place;
‡Assessment of the retention of ECG knowledge and/or competence by means of a repeat assessment after the educational intervention, without any further instruction since the acquisition of knowledge was assessed;
§Level 1: Participants reactions;
¶Level 2a: Changes in attitudes and perceptions;
**Level 2b: Acquisition of knowledge and skills
CAI, computer-assisted instruction; N, number.