Face-to-Face Versus Online Training Method and their Impact on Practical Skills of Medical Students in ECG Interpretation

Abstract

Present study aims to focus on the comparison of face to face and online training through Telegram application for emergency medicine residents in diagnosis and Echocardiography (ECG) interpretation. This quasi-experimental study was conducted by participation of 140 medical students studying emergency medicine in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences during 2016-2017. Individuals were divided into two groups of 70 students trained for ECG interpretation by two methods including face to face and a mobile communication application (Telegram). To assess the ECG interpretational and diagnostic skills of participants before and after the training, we used the same test and recorded correct answers percentage and their scores. Data, were analyzed using SPSS Software. In face to face group, the mean score of students before and after training were 12.3 +/- 2.37 and 16.53 +/- 1.99 respectively, while in online class group, the mean score of students before and after training were 12.12 +/- 2.06 and 16.56 +/- 2.11 respectively; a significant increase in level of knowledge and skills of ECG interpretation in both groups were noted, but the increase in the knowledge level and skills of ECG interpretation after training was not significantly different between groups. Due to commuting problems of students to medical training classes and difficulty attending classes in some cases in addition to convenience of instant messaging and social softwares and publicly availability and accessibility of information on mobile phone at any time, this approach can be used as a standard medical training classes in future.