Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41769505›Full record

ArticleCureus2026

Improving ECG Interpretation Skills Among Healthcare Providers at Aswan University Hospitals: A Clinical Audit.

Eiman Yassir Musa Hussain, Razan Mutasim Mahgoub Idris, Reem Ahmed Mohammed Diab, Ahmed Mahmoud Sidahmed Abdullah, Ziyad Tarig Hashim Gabir, Khalid Abdelhadi Ahmed Elbalal, Tarig Osman Mohamedali Ahmed, Randa Mahamoud Hamid Hassan, Othman Yousuf Ibrahim Elhaj, Rana Noureldaim Mustafa Ahmed and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Eiman Yassir Musa HussainPulmonary Medicine, Aswan University Hospitals, Aswan, EGY.
Razan Mutasim Mahgoub IdrisPulmonary Medicine, Aswan University Hospitals, Aswan, EGY.
Reem Ahmed Mohammed DiabPulmonary Medicine, Aswan University Hospitals, Aswan, EGY.
Ahmed Mahmoud Sidahmed AbdullahPulmonary Medicine, Aswan University Hospitals, Aswan, EGY.
Ziyad Tarig Hashim GabirPulmonary Medicine, Aswan University Hospitals, Aswan, EGY.
Khalid Abdelhadi Ahmed ElbalalPulmonary Medicine, Aswan University Hospitals, Aswan, EGY.
Tarig Osman Mohamedali AhmedPulmonary Medicine, Aswan University Hospitals, Aswan, EGY.
Randa Mahamoud Hamid HassanPulmonary Medicine, Aswan University Hospitals, Aswan, EGY.
Othman Yousuf Ibrahim ElhajPulmonary Medicine, Aswan University Hospitals, Aswan, EGY.
Rana Noureldaim Mustafa AhmedPulmonary Medicine, Aswan University Hospitals, Aswan, EGY.
Rawaa Ahmed Widaa AhmedPulmonary Medicine, Aswan University Hospitals, Aswan, EGY.
Shazly Bghdadi Ali AhmedPulmonary Medicine, Aswan University Hospitals, Aswan, EGY.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundElectrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation is a fundamental skill in cardiovascular diagnostics, crucial for identifying various cardiac conditions and guiding appropriate clinical decisions. Misinterpretation can lead to adverse patient outcomes. This clinical audit aimed to assess and improve the commonest life-threatening cases that can be faced during daily practice at Aswan University Hospitals, Aswan, Egypt.

methodsThis clinical audit involved 124 participants in the second cycle, including house officers, medical officers, and registrars, from Aswan University Hospitals. Data were collected using a pre-made questionnaire and analyzed. A six-stage approach to ECG interpretation was used as the standard for assessment, covering electrical activity presence, ventricular rate, QRS rhythm regularity, QRS width, atrial activity presence, and the relationship between atrial and ventricular activity. A first audit cycle assessed baseline knowledge (N=102), followed by an intervention (training and educational materials based on the new local standards), and then a second audit cycle (N=124) to measure improvement. Ethical approval was obtained from the hospital's institutional review board and ethics committee.

resultsSignificant improvements were observed in ECG interpretation skills between the first and second audit cycles. The ability to identify electrical activity increased from 67 (65.7%) to 118 (95.2%), a 29.5% improvement. Knowledge of calculating heart rate improved by 37.0%, from 47 (46.1%) to 103 (83.1%). Recognition of regular heart rate improved from 66 (64.7%) to 100 (80.6%), a 15.9% improvement. Identifying changes in QRS width showed the largest improvement of 40.2%, from 33 (32.4%) to 90 (72.6%). The ability to identify atrial activity increased by 6.7%, from 68 (66.7%) to 91 (73.4%). Finally, recognizing the relationship between atrial and ventricular activity improved by 27.8%, from 49 (48.0%) to 94 (75.8%).

conclusionThis clinical audit demonstrated a substantial improvement in ECG interpretation skills among healthcare providers at Aswan University Hospitals after the intervention. This reflects enhanced adherence of staff to guidelines, thus optimizing patient care. Continued re-auditing is recommended to ensure sustained implementation of these improved standards.

Indexed as

: clinical auditecginterpretationjunior doctorquality improvement project (qip)

Identifiers

PMID41769505
PMCPMC12948551

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.