Teaching Cardiac Arrhythmias Using Educational Videos and Simulator Software in Nurses: An Educational Interventional Study

Background: Cardiac arrhythmias are among the most prominent causes of mortality in patients with heart diseases. By timely diagnosis of arrhythmias, nurses can provide necessary therapeutic measures to these patients. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of teaching cardiac arrhythmias using educational videos and simulator software in nurses. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 22 novice nurses were selected based on the census method. Evaluations were performed before and after educational interventions for cardiac arrhythmia. The interventions included using simulator software and face-to-face education. A questionnaire with 20 questions regarding cardiac arrhythmias organized in 4 parts of sinus arrhythmias, atrial arrhythmias, ventricular arrhythmias, and blocks and junctional rhythm, and each with 5 questions was used to collect data. Each question was scored 1 point, and the final score ranged from 0 to 20. The scores were categorized into poor (< 10), moderate (11 - 15), and good (16 - 20) levels. Data were analyzed using SPSS V.20 software. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean of total score regarding the diagnosis of arrhythmias before (9.9) and after (15.68) the education (P value = 0.022). This indicated an increase of about 6 scores at post-intervention. The classification of the scores showed that 9 (40.9%) and 13 (59.1%) nurses had poor and moderate diagnostic abilities before training. However, following education, 10 nurses (50%) acquired moderate and 10 (50%) nurses obtained good scores. Conclusions: Arrhythmia scores varied before and after training, with the mean scores after training increased, and arrhythmia detection rate was increased after the intervention. It is advisable to use modern educational methods as good alternatives for reviewing educational content and concepts.