Illustrating clinical relevance in the preclerkship medical school curriculum through active learning with KardiaMobile electrocardiography

Abstract

We introduced the AliveCor KardiaMobile electrocardiogram (ECG), a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, iPad-enabled medical device, into the preclerkship curriculum to demonstrate the clinical relevance of cardiac electrophysiology with active learning. An evaluation showed that medical students considered the KardiaMobile ECG active learning activity to be a valuable educational tool for teaching cardiac physiology.

Keywords: active learning; medical school education; mobile ECG.

Figure. 1.

KardiaMobile equipment and output. A: Kardia iPad application running with the KardiaMobile electrocardiogram (ECG) medical device. B, top: example Kardia application output of a sinus rhythm when left and right fingers are placed on both KardiaMobile electrodes. Bottom: lead I ECG rhythm strip acquired from a standard 12-lead Burdick 8500 ECG from the same patient. Paper speed = 25 mm/s; gain = 10 mm/mV.

Fig. 2.

Simulated 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) with KardiaMobile output and comparison. Example KardiaMobile application output of a sinus rhythm when simulating a 12-lead ECG (left) compared with the rhythm strip acquired from a standard 12-lead Burdick 8500 ECG from the same patient (right). Example V1 rhythm, when the right thumb is placed on one KardiaMobile electrode and the second electrode is placed at the V1 site (4th intercostal space to the right of the sternum). Example V2 rhythm, when the right thumb is placed on one KardiaMobile electrode and the second electrode is placed at the V2 site (4th intercostal space to the left of the sternum). Example V6 rhythm, when the right thumb is placed on one KardiaMobile electrode and the second electrode is placed at the V6 site (5th intercostal space in the midaxillary line). Paper speed = 25 mm/s; gain = 10 mm/mV.

Fig. 3.

MS1 students’ evaluation of the electrocardiogram (ECG) active learning sessions. Data represent 41 questionnaire responses from the MS1 class. Survey questions: 1) I had experience with mobile medical devices before starting medical school. 2) The AliveCor KardiaMobile device was a valuable addition to the “Reading ECG” session in Physiology. 3) I felt that using the AliveCor KardiaMobile device helped further my understanding of ECGs. 4) I feel that using mobile medical devices will help further my medical education. 5) Knowing about mobile medical devices is important in my future practice as a physician.