New ECG Simulation Test Software

[bakertaylor28]

There is now a software program that enables you to test your skills in identifying 27 of the more common arrhythmias from a six-second lead-2 ECG strip. The software remains under development. You can download here:

github.com/bakertaylor28/ECG-Simulation-Test/releases

Let me know what you think, what kind of additional content it should have, etc.

 

[exodus]

Download at own risk, no source code available which is a big redflag on github. Sourcecode zips both only have the exe.

 

[bakertaylor28]

Download at own risk, no source code available which is a big redflag on github. Sourcecode zips both only have the exe.

For some reason, github didn't pull in the source code into the zip archive, which was probably because I uploaded the exe binary first and then uploaded the source code, expecting github to pull the code into the archive. I have since fixed the problem, and the source code is now available. You should also be scanning ANY executable file with an ANTIVIRUS, regardless of how well you might trust the source.

However, it should be noted that the program is only open source for the time being- I may or may not decide to assert a copyright in future versions, if there are any.

 

[Kevinf]

You spelled acronym and arrhythmia wrong in the program

 

[bakertaylor28]

You spelled acronym and arrhythmia wrong in the program

Yes I know. Spelling isn't something you think about when your writing out code. plus I probably reflexively applied my spell check which is wrong half the time. As long as I haven't misidentified any of them, thats the best I can hope for.

 

[Kevinf]

A running tally of the score and a countdown of how many questions are remaining would be handy. Also something like how JBlearning test-prep explains the answer to you when you get a question wrong, and explains the right answer. If you intend to keep developing this software.

 

[bakertaylor28]

A running tally of the score and a countdown of how many questions are remaining would be handy. Also something like how JBlearning test-prep explains the answer to you when you get a question wrong, and explains the right answer. If you intend to keep developing this software.

Makes sense- one of the things I was hoping to develop. My concern there is documenting ALL of the exceptions to the rule. (for example explaining why junctional tachy has the same rabbit-ear morphology as the bundle branch blocks is probably going to end up being a short essay that would be too long to present in the GUI. I suppose that the best approach I could take is to give a refresher of the distinct markers and criteria of each rhythm, with perhaps useful mnemonics where they exist.

I was also thinking about adding a second level of sorts, that requires a certain percentage of the rhythm interpretations be correct in order to pass to next- dealing with ACLS pharmocology. The question really is whether or not we want correct answers according to the ACLS guidelines or we want to go more actual practice with it. (of course if we go actual practice, its not going to be much of a tool for learning ACLS- because the actual test is so gung-ho on the guidelines.)

One of my main concerns is that the strips aren't realistic enough- they are rather large as compared to what we actually get on a monitor. The problem was that I couldn't find a large enough stock pile of rhythms in order to make them the same. I initially tried setting up a camera on a tripod and videotaping a monitor in test mode, problem was that it backfired and gave an image that was way too small given the cutoff resolution of computer monitors these days.

 

[NomadicMedic]

Haven't downloaded this, I spend most of my time on the phone. But, how is this different from skillstat?

 

[bakertaylor28]

Haven't downloaded this, I spend most of my time on the phone. But, how is this different from skillstat?

This is different from skillstat in that skillstat is only available online- this is an off-line version. Another major difference is that it gives you 3 possible identifications to choose from as opposed to having to pick from the full array of 27 possible answers for any given item. Therefore, it reinforces the concepts via what is known as "learning by frames" - Which allows one to retain the knowledge easier as opposed to the randomization of skillstat which doesn't really teach anything in terms of retaining the knowledge several days latter- because skill stat itself doesn't form mental associations- rather it seeks to teach from Pavlovian conditioning.

Another difference is skillstat is timed, where as this is NOT- for those whom wish to build accuracy as opposed to building speed while reinforcing incorrect answers.