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Research Article | DOI: https://doi.org/10.31579/2639-4162/186
1Computer Science Graduate. José Martí Pérez Pediatric Hospital in Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.
2Graduate in Health Technology, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation profile. Assistant Professor. Associate Researcher. University of Medical Sciences of Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.
3Bachelor of Education, English specialty. Consulting Senior Professor. Principal researcher. MSc. in education. Dr.C Pedagogical. University of Medical Sciences of Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.
4Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. MSc. in Attention to Educational Diversity Dr.C Pedagogical. José Martí Pérez University of Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.
5Doctor Second Degree Specialist Hygiene and Epidemiology. MSc. in Higher Medical Education. Consulting Senior Professor. Sancti Spíritus University of Medical Sciences, Cuba.
*Corresponding Author: Adrian González Méndez, Graduate in Health Technology, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation profile. Assistant Professor. Associate Researcher. University of Medical Sciences of Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.
Citation: Juan F.A. Nephew, Adrian G. Méndez, José A.C. Pacheco, D. Buchaca Machado, Lázaro R. Morell León, (2024), Educational Software for The Development of Knowledge About Electrocardiogram in Cuban Doctors, J.General Medicine and Clinical Practice, 7(10); DOI:10.31579/2639-4162/186
Copyright: © 2024, Adrian González Méndez. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Received: 20 May 2024 | Accepted: 10 June 2024 | Published: 18 June 2024
Keywords: educational software; knowledge development; electrocardiogram
Introduction: In recent years, technology has taken computing power to new horizons, driving an unprecedented revolution in information processing. Bioelectric signals are low amplitude and frequency signals coming from the human body, generated by electrochemical reactions of certain types of cells when excited. Some of these signals include the electrocardiogram or electroencephalogram.
Objective: Design a software for the development of knowledge about electrocardiogram in Cuban doctors who work in Venezuela. Method: An innovative development study was carried out on doctors working in the state of Carabobo in the Republic of Venezuela, in the period from September 5, 2023 to March 20, 2024.
Results: The specialist group was made up of 5 Doctors Specialist in Cardiology and 2 Graduates in Computer Science, which agreed with the design of the software for its implementation. In relation to the types of electrocardiograms, the appropriate indicator before using the software was represented by 52.38% and once the work with the software was finished, this indicator was represented by 90.47%.
Conclusions: The educational software fulfilled the use for which it was created as an educational tool, with principles of didactics, becoming more motivating when incorporating knowledge about electrocardiogram topics to Cardiology resident doctors in service
In recent years, technology has taken computing power to new horizons, driving an unprecedented revolution in information processing. With each new generation, the limits are pushed even further, allowing machines to perform more complex tasks and significantly assist in decision-making for critical problems, such as medical diagnosis.[1].
All of this, added to the popularization of the study and research of algorithms to analyze bioelectric signals, has encouraged the scientific community to develop mathematical models and software that serve as support for health professionals. Bioelectric signals are low amplitude and frequency signals coming from the human body, generated by electrochemical reactions of certain types of cells when excited. Some of these signals include the electrocardiogram (ECG) or the electroencephalogram (EEG). [1]. Specifically, the ECG plays a fundamental role in the study of the cardiac system, since it is probably the most important non-invasive method when detecting and diagnosing heart diseases. To record the behavior of the electric field produced by cardiac cells, a series of electrodes are placed on the patient's skin, both on the extremities and in specific locations on the thorax.[1]. For some time now, the generalization of the problem-based learning modality has been advocated as a way to encourage learners to use all their potential to achieve the acquisition of the knowledge set by the objectives designed for any training activity. Thus, participatory learning emerges as a necessary procedure to achieve important achievements in the teaching process, integrating theory and practice for the application of the clinical method in problem solving.[2]. To use these learning methods, it is currently advocated to exploit the technological resources within our reach and which are not always remembered in our universities. The use of new information and communication technologies (ICT) has strongly penetrated the university educational field, supporting the rise in the application of teaching methods, which has forced us to reconsider the educational teaching process itself in the new computerized conditions in which society evolves.[2]. The academic tools that have been used for learning and assessment for years are traditional, as are educational strategies. Various research supports the use of digital platforms for learning. Likewise, along the same lines, important studies show the need for the implementation of technology in the study, so that in this way the interest of students in applying these tools increases.[3]. The teaching of electrocardiography during the degree is of great importance since upon graduating from medical schools, and heading towards primary health care, the new doctor has the very high responsibility of responding to medical emergencies when he performs his shifts in which he is. Since this diagnostic means is frequently involved and, in most cases, it means rapid and accurate conduct, this is where the greatest weaknesses arise. Regarding the training of the specialist in Comprehensive General Medicine, its program includes electrocardiography, but as another complement to the study of cardiovascular diseases and not as a specific topic.[2]. In order to continue contributing to the development of knowledge, our objective is to design software for the development of knowledge about electrocardiogram in Cuban doctors who work in Venezuela.
An innovative development study was carried out on doctors working in the state of Carabobo in the Republic of Venezuela, in the period from September 5, 2023 to March 20, 2024. Structured by three stages, where in the first at this stage, bibliographic searches were carried out in indexed databases (PubMed, CUMED, Google Scholar and SCIELO), to find out about didactic means of teaching and learning capable of conveying knowledge to doctors providing services on the electrocardiogram. In the second stage, the teaching methods of the electrocardiogram were determined and a diagnosis was made to know the real state of knowledge in the study subjects. And in the third stage, an educational software was designed (figure 1) through a computer platform that fulfilled didactic elements that make the knowledge to be imparted more accessible, it was validated by an expert group and the results obtained with the application of the proposal.
Figure 1. Multimedia for the development of electrocardiogram knowledge
The study sample was made up of 42 Cuban doctors who worked in the state of Carabobo, Republic of Venezuela who gave their consent to participate in the study. A knowledge diagnostic pre-test was applied, the software was designed and validated by a group of specialists, then the software was delivered to the study subjects for their educational interaction and how to work with it was explained, in case of difficulty, computer advice was offered. Finally, a post-test was applied to compile the knowledge acquired after working with the proposed software. The software consists of a presentation, a content menu that reflects different topics related to the electrocardiogram, these topics are related to images and figures for a better understanding of the contents. At the end of the software, you can check what you have learned through a content test and once completed it automatically offers the results obtained. This educational intervention was approved by the Directorate of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Venezuelan territory by the training personnel and the Science and Technology personnel.
The specialist group was made up of 5 Doctors Specialist in Cardiology and 2 Graduates in Computer Science, who agreed with the design of the software for its implementation in all the parameters analyzed (Table 1).
| Software Features | OK | Not agree | ||
| No. | % | No. | % | |
| Form of content presentation | 7 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| Scientific validity of the topics addressed | 7 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| Language | 7 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| Environmental design | 6 | 85.71 | 1 | 14.28 |
| Relevance | 7 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| Representation of a teaching model | 5 | 71.42 | 2 | 28.57 |
| Utility for learning | 7 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicability | 7 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| Content | 7 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| Ease | 7 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| Functionality | 7 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| Originality | 6 | 85.71 | 1 | 14.28 |
| User interface | 7 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
Source: survey of specialists
Table 1. Assessment by specialist criteria
Within the characteristics of the doctors, the age group between 25 and 30 years (59.52%) and the male sex (66.66%) prevailed (Table 2).
| age group | No. | % |
| From 25 to 30 years | 25 | 59.52 |
| From 31 to 40 years | 10 | 23.80 |
| More than 40 years | 7 | 16.66 |
| Total | 42 | 100 |
| Gender | No. | % |
| Female | 14 | 33.33 |
| Male | 28 | 66.66 |
| Total | 42 | 100 |
Source: survey of doctors
Table 2. Distribution of doctors in the study according to age, sex and state where they work in Venezuela
In the knowledge related to the generalities of the electrocardiogram before the intervention, 80.95% knew that it was the same, a result that changed after the intervention reaching 100% (Table 3).
| Level of knowledge about generalities of the electrocardiogram | Before software | After software | ||
| No. | % | No. | % | |
| Appropriate | 3. 4 | 80.95 | 42 | 100 |
| Inappropriate | 8 | 19.04 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 42 | 100 | 42 | 100 |
Source: survey of doctors
Table 3. Doctors according to knowledge about generalities of the electrocardiogram (before and after the intervention with the software)
When analyzing the knowledge that doctors had about the types of electrodes before the intervention with the software, 57.14% responded adequate, this indicator after the intervention was improved since 97.61% identified said electrodes (Table 4).
| Level of knowledge about the types of electrodes | Before software | After software | ||
| No. | % | No. | % | |
| Appropriate | 24 | 57.14 | 41 | 97.61 |
| Inappropriate | 18 | 42.85 | 1 | 2.38 |
| Total | 42 | 100 | 42 | 100 |
Source: survey of doctors
Table 4. Doctors according to knowledge about types of electrodes (before and after the intervention with the software)
It is shown in the knowledge about the correct position of the electrodes before the intervention with the software, where 69.04% responded to the appropriate indicator, and after the intervention 100% of the doctors
responded favorably. In relation to the types of electrocardiograms, the appropriate indicator before using the software was represented by 52.38% and once the work with the software was finished, this indicator was represented by 90.47% (Table 5).
| Level of knowledge about correct position of the electrodes | Before software | After software | ||
| No. | % | No. | % | |
| Appropriate | 29 | 69.04 | 42 | 100 |
| Inappropriate | 13 | 30.95 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 42 | 100 | 42 | 100 |
| Level of knowledge about types of electrocardiograms in relation to the pathology | Before software | After software | ||
| No. | % | No. | % | |
| Appropriate | 22 | 52.38 | 38 | 90.47 |
| Inappropriate | twenty | 47.61 | 4 | 9.52 |
| Total | 42 | 100 | 42 | 100 |
Source: survey of doctors
Table 5: Doctors according to knowledge about correct position of the electrodes, and types of electrocardiograms in relation to the pathology (before and after the intervention with the software)
Cuban Medical Education, both in its universities and in the settings where teaching is carried out, has carried out hard work aimed at incorporating ICT in each of the dimensions of graduate training: curricular, university extension and socio- political.[4]. In our study it was observed that the specialists agreed 100% on most of the indicators that characterized the educational software designed. As a characterization of the doctors in the study, the age group between 25 and 30 years (59.52%) and the male sex (66.66%) prevailed. Regarding the generalities of the electrocardiogram before the intervention, 80.95% knew that they were the same, a result that was modified after the interaction with the software, reaching 100
The educational software fulfilled the use for which it was created as an educational tool, with principles of didactics, becoming more motivating when incorporating knowledge about electrocardiogram topics to Cardiology resident doctors in service.
The autors declare that does not exist an interest conflict.
The authors have not received any financial support to carry out this study.
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