Clinical aptitude in the interpretation of electrocardiogram in a sample of medical interns

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Mexico. The education in the electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation is deficient in students and residents. Objective: To assess the student's skills on ECG interpretation. Methods and materials: Comparative survey of 98 students, 70 in medical internship and 28 residents of three specialties and a group of others, in four general hospitals. Dependent variable: Calculated medians in instrument conformed to 72 items, with the next indicators: rhythm (15), measurements (20), morphology (20) and diagnostic (17), in five clinical cases (auricular fibrillation, acute infarct, left ventricular hypertrophy, left bundle branch block and normality). Theorical, content and construct validity by three cardiologist, three internist s, and one family physician (Delphi technique) was performed. Pre-test pilot in 20 students was obtained. Reliability 0.86 (Kuder-Richardson). Statistics: U Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis (intergroup comparisons), Spearman andANOVA tests were used. Results: The highest rates were obtained (44) by residents, with half of the expected (72), the interns obtained a less rate (39). There was difference between the interns groups (p