KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE ON ELECTROCARDIOGRAM INTERPRETATION AMONG NURSES AT NATIONAL HEART INSTITUTE

Abstract

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the top killer globally, including in Malaysia. Patients with symptoms of chest pain are recommended to get an electrocardiogram immediately, in less than 10 minutes, to detect necrosis of heart tissue due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This cross-sectional study conducted among nurses at the National Heart Institute (NHI), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was aimed to identify the level of knowledge and practice of ECG interpretation among nurses at NHI. This current study used convenient sampling and involved 255 participants. Overall, 239 participants (93.7%) have good ECG interpretation knowledge and 88.2% (n = 225) have good practice on ECG. There was an association between the level of knowledge and practice regarding ECG readings (p = 0.01). In conclusion, the level of knowledge and practice among nurses in NIH was considered good.