The objective of this study was to determine if an online ECG Perceptual and Adaptive Learning Module (ECG PALM) is an efficient instrument to teach ECG interpretation.  The ECG PALM consists of 415 unique ECG tracings with associated pretest, posttest, and delayed tests, each using 30 additional ECGs to gauge the effectiveness and durability of training.  The ECG PALM produced statistically significant improvements (0.0001 < p < 0.0045) in student and resident performance for both accuracy (effect size = 0.9 to 3.2) and fluency (effect size = 2.5 to 3.1) following training ranging from 46 ± 24 minutes (R3s) to 88 ± 32 minutes (third-year medical students).  Medical students and residents performed significantly better on a test the year following training (delayed test) than those without prior ECG PALM training (pretest).  These observations suggest that the ECG PALM is an effective and durable supplemental tool for developing mastery in interpreting common ECG abnormalities.
ECG PALM