Computer Interpretation of the ECG Raising Awareness CIERA Trial (CIERA)

The Effect of Three Educational Interventions on Emergency and Critical Nurses Proficiency in Computer Interpretation of the ECG: Results of the CIERA Trial

Background: Practice guidelines require emergency and critical care nurses (ECC) to be skillful in ECG and cardiac monitoring. Evidence suggests that nurses' proficiency is still inadequate with this regard. Computer interpretation of the ECG (CIE) is accurate and improves clinicians' accuracy in ECG interpretation. Unfortunately, nurses are not taught or trained to use this technology. Through this study the investigators aim to evaluate the effectiveness of three educational interventions to improve ECC nurses' proficiency in CIE.

Methods. The investigators applied a randomized mixed, crossover and parallel, design. Linear mixed model analysis was used to examine differences in CIE test score among groups and across time. There were three interventional groups (G0, no intervention then flyer; G1, face-to-face then online; and G2, online then face-to-face) with three points of time measurement (T0, baselines; T1, after first intervention, and T2 after second intervention).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Proficiency in Computer Interpretation of the ECG
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Flyer; Other: face-to-face lecture; Other: Online lecture

Detailed Description

Nurses working in the emergency department and critical care units spend a great deal of their time reading or recording ECGs. Practice guidelines require nurses working in units where cardiac monitoring is essential to be skillful in electrocardiography and cardiac monitoring. However, evidence suggests that nurses are still far from achieving this goal. In a study conducted in 65 cardiac care units from three different countries, nurses' (n, 3013) mean total score on an online ECG test was below 50%. However, nurses' mean total score significantly improved after receiving an online ECG monitoring education program. In another study published recently, emergency department and critical care nurses' (n, 210) mean total score in an ECG proficiency test was 18.1 out of 34 with only 61.9% of nurses scoring equal to or higher than 50% of the maximum score. Inadequate nurses' performance on ECG interpretation and cardiac monitoring skills can delay or even prevent lifesaving treatment.

One way of improving emergency and critical care nurses' (ECC) ECG interpretation accuracy is through the utilization of the computer interpretation of the ECG (CIE). This tool is incredibly accurate for certain interpretation algorithms to an extent comparable to a cardiologist, which is considered the gold standard for ECG interpretation. The CIE overall accuracy is estimated to be 90 to 93%. CIE combined with an "over-read" by a well-trained interpreter represents the most accurate form currently available for ECG interpretation. Existing evidence supports CIE ability to improve health care professionals' interpretation accuracy. In a recent study, CIE improved nurses' interpretation accuracy by 16.2%, improved cardiology fellows accuracy by 10.9% , resident physicians by 14.4%, and medical students by 19.9%. In the same study, CIE increased interpretation confidence by 0.06 on a scale from 0 to 1 for all study participants.

In addition to accuracy and improving clinicians' interpretation, especially for less experienced readers, CIE has several other advantages. CIE is especially useful when access to an interpretation expert is not possible; it minimizes expenses; does not fatigue; does not become distracted by outside pressure; objective; not affected by intra or inter-observer variability; decreases interpretation time, on average, by 52 seconds and by 24-28% for the experience reader; makes interpretation easier because it requires no deep knowledge; can take into account age, gender, race, and medication therapy; capable of doing automated serial ECG comparisons; capable of applying multiple and complex criteria, for example in diagnosing left ventricular hypertrophy, that would be difficult or impossible to apply otherwise; leads to faster diagnoses and earlier treatment; can unify diagnostic statements terminology through the following of the terminology adopted by practice guidelines. Such unification of terminology in electrocardiography would facilitate better patient care and unify teaching curriculum all over the world. CIE also continues to improve over time especially with AI evolving technology.

CIE has also several limitations. CIE is generally inaccurate in diagnosing arrhythmia, conduction disturbances, and pace maker rhythms. It is also inaccurate in diagnosing ischemia and myocardial infarction. It is inaccurate in measuring the QT interval, diagnosing long QT interval, and measuring QRS duration. It is inaccurate in diagnosing atrial fibrillation. It misdiagnoses atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. It does not identify left and right arm lead reversal. The wide variability among different interpretation software with regard to accuracy and employed measurement criteria is another major limitation. However, even with these limitations, the CIE is still considered overall to be accurate.

Nevertheless, despite its great usefulness and potential to advance nursing practice and patient's care, unfortunately nurses are not taught or trained to use this technology. Formal undergraduate, graduate, and clinical education and textbooks do not talk about CIE. Even in research studies evaluating nurses' knowledge and proficiency in electrocardiography, researchers do not include testing items concerning CIE. As far as the investigators know, there is no previous study that has ever specifically evaluated nurses' knowledge in CIE.

The investigators aim from this project which we call "Computer Interpretation of the ECG Raising Awareness CIERA" to raise awareness among nurse practitioners, educators, and managers about the utilization of this technology. Specifically, the investigators aim to introduce three educational interventions (face-to-face, online, and flyer) and assess their effectiveness in improving ECC nurses' proficiency in computer interpretation of the ECG.

The investigators followed the "CONSORT 2010 statement: extension to randomized crossover trials" guidelines in reporting the findings of this trial.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 268
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Jordan
  • Amman, Jordan, 11942
    • The University of Jordan

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Every nurse working in the emergency department and critical care units of the participating hospitals

Exclusion Criteria:

• None

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: no intervention then a flyer; the flyer was a small, palm-sized, crafted from fine-quality material, thoughtfully designed to be colorful, visually inviting, and easy going, featuring carefully selected introductory images, ample whitespace, and minimal text to ensure clarity, quick engagement, and polished first impression.	Other: Flyer; the flyer was a small, palm-sized, crafted from fine-quality material, thoughtfully designed to be colorful, visually inviting, and easy going, featuring carefully selected introductory images, ample whitespace, and minimal text to ensure clarity, quick engagement, and polished first impression.
Experimental: Face-to-face then online lectures; the face-to-face content included audiovisual aids, case scenarios, and immediate feedback discussions. The online content included artificial intelligence enhanced audiovisual aids (videos and images), integrated interactive feedback mechanisms (e.g., requiring the participant to scan a QR code and respond to real-time MCQ questions). The face-to-face lecture time was totally 45 minutes. The online total lecture time was 25 minutes.	Other: face-to-face lecture; the face-to-face content included audiovisual aids, case scenarios, and immediate feedback discussions. The face-to-face lecture time was totally 45 minutes; Other: Online lecture; The online content included artificial intelligence enhanced audiovisual aids (videos and images), integrated interactive feedback mechanisms (e.g., requiring the participant to scan a QR code and respond to real-time MCQ questions). The online total lecture time was 25 minutes.
Experimental: Online then face-to-face lectures; the face-to-face content included audiovisual aids, case scenarios, and immediate feedback discussions. The online content included artificial intelligence enhanced audiovisual aids (videos and images), integrated interactive feedback mechanisms (e.g., requiring the participant to scan a QR code and respond to real-time MCQ questions). The face-to-face lecture time was totally 45 minutes. The online total lecture time was 25 minutes.	Other: face-to-face lecture; the face-to-face content included audiovisual aids, case scenarios, and immediate feedback discussions. The face-to-face lecture time was totally 45 minutes; Other: Online lecture; The online content included artificial intelligence enhanced audiovisual aids (videos and images), integrated interactive feedback mechanisms (e.g., requiring the participant to scan a QR code and respond to real-time MCQ questions). The online total lecture time was 25 minutes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Emergency and Critical Care Nurses Proficiency in Computer Interpretation of the ECG	Emergency and Critical Care Nurses scores on the "Computer Interpretation of the ECG" test score. The test is scored out of 28 (range 0 to 28), with higher scores indicating greater proficiency. The test scale name is "Computer Interpretation of the ECG" test scale	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 5 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Jordan
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Amer M Hasanien, PhD, The University of Jordan

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 8, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 14, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 19, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 19, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 14, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: algorithm; nurse; Electrocardiography; ECG; computer interpretation; emergency and critical care; interpretation software
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Disease Attributes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Emergencies
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2289\2024\19 (Other Grant/Funding Number: The University of Jordan, Deanship of Scientific Research)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: all, except identifying information. Based on reasonable request.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: time of official publication to May 8th 2029
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: from any researcher from any country. They will be able to access all but identifying information. access is through contacting the corresponding author.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF; ANALYTIC_CODE; CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No