ECG TRAİNİNG METHODS FOR PEDİATRİC RESİDENTS

September 18, 2026 updated by: Beyhan Berna Akpara, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital

EVALUATİON OF THE EFFECTİVENESS OF CONFERENCE-BASED AND SMALL-GROUP ECG TRAİNİNG FOR PEDİATRİC RESİDENTS

This randomized controlled study evaluated the effectiveness of two electrocardiography (ECG) training methods among pediatric residents. After receiving basic ECG training, participants were randomly assigned to either conference-based training or small-group case-based training. ECG interpretation performance was assessed using a structured examination at baseline, immediately after basic training, and at 1 and 4 months after the randomized educational interventions. The study aimed to compare changes in ECG interpretation performance over time between the two training methods and to evaluate the retention of ECG knowledge.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This prospective, single-center, randomized controlled study was conducted among pediatric residents at Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital in Izmir, Türkiye. Participants first received basic ECG training delivered by the same pediatric cardiology specialist. A total of 76 pediatric residents were enrolled and participated in the initial assessment and basic ECG training. Of these, 63 participants proceeded to randomization and were allocated in a 1:1 ratio to conference-based training or small-group case-based training. Both educational interventions covered the same learning objectives and ECG content and had comparable training durations.

ECG interpretation performance was evaluated using a structured examination consisting of 10 pediatric ECG cases. The assessment included heart rate, cardiac axis, rhythm, identification of pathological findings, and final ECG diagnosis. Assessments were performed before and immediately after the initial basic ECG training and at 1 and 4 months following the randomized educational interventions. The primary objective was to compare changes in ECG interpretation performance over time between the two training methods.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
76

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • İzmir
      • Izmir, İzmir, Turkey (Türkiye), 35220
        • Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Pediatric residents actively working at Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital during the study period.
  • Voluntary participation in the study and provision of written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Being on a pediatric cardiology rotation during the study period.
  • Having an initial ECG assessment score greater than 80%.
  • Not actively working at the institution during the study period.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Conference-Based ECG Training

Participants assigned to this arm received conference-based ECG training covering predefined pediatric ECG interpretation objectives and content.
Behavioral: Conference-Based ECG Training

Participants received a 45-minute conference-based ECG training session delivered by a pediatric cardiology specialist. The training covered predefined pediatric ECG interpretation objectives and content.
Experimental: Small-Group Case-Based ECG Training

Participants assigned to this arm received small-group case-based ECG training covering predefined pediatric ECG interpretation objectives and content.
Behavioral: Small-Group Case-Based ECG Training

Participants received a 45-minute small-group case-based ECG training session in groups of 5-6 participants. The training used interactive pediatric ECG cases and feedback and covered the same predefined ECG interpretation objectives and content as the conference-based training.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in ECG Interpretation Performance Over Time
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after basic ECG training, 1 month, and 4 months

ECG interpretation performance was assessed using a structured examination consisting of 10 pediatric ECG cases. For each ECG, participants were evaluated on heart rate, cardiac axis, rhythm, identification of pathological findings, and final ECG diagnosis. The total score was standardized to a 0-10 scale, with higher scores indicating better ECG interpretation performance. The primary outcome was the change in ECG interpretation scores over time and its comparison between the conference-based and small-group case-based training groups.
Baseline, immediately after basic ECG training, 1 month, and 4 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Retention of ECG Interpretation Performance
Time Frame: 1 month and 4 months after the randomized educational interventions

Retention of ECG interpretation performance was assessed using the same structured 10-case pediatric ECG examination. The total score was standardized to a 0-10 scale, with higher scores indicating better ECG interpretation performance. Changes in performance between the 1-month and 4-month assessments were evaluated to assess retention of ECG interpretation knowledge.
1 month and 4 months after the randomized educational interventions

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 15, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 30, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 18, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 18, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 18, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 852

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

De-identified individual participant data underlying the results reported in this study may be made available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request, subject to applicable ethical and institutional requirements.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Data will be available following publication of the study results.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

De-identified individual participant data underlying the results reported in this study will be available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request to the corresponding author. Requests will be considered in accordance with applicable ethical and institutional requirements.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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