THE EFFECT OF USING WEB-BASED ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY SIMULATION ON RHYTHM DIAGNOSTIC SKILLS OF PARAMEDIC STUDENTS

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effect of the use of web-based electrocardiography (ECG) simulation on paramedic students' rhythm diagnostic skills. Method: The study was conducted as a single-group pretest-posttest design study between 02.05.2021-01.09.2021. The study group of the research consisted of students studying in the last year in the paramedical department of a university in Turkey. The data of the study were collected person-to-person using the information form and the Basic ECG Rhythm Diagnosis Form. Participants were provided online ECG training for 3 hours per week over the course of 8 weeks. One month after the training, the participants were pre-tested. After the pretest, the participants used a web-based ECG simulator for 4 weeks. Posttest was applied to the participants at the end of four weeks. Results: It was found that the rate of correct diagnosis of all rhythms in the Diagnosis of Basic ECG Rhythms Form of the students increased after the use of a web-based simulator. It was determined that there was a significant statistical difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of the students (t:-7.476, p<0.001). Conclusion: ECG is one of the subjects that individuals have difficulty in learning. Therefore, using different teaching methods in addition to the traditional teaching method can help facilitate ECG teaching. In this study, it was determined that the use of web-based electrocardiography simulation improved the rhythm diagnostic skills of paramedical students.