Computer-assisted education system for arrhythmia (CAESAR)

✍ Scribed by Masakatsu Fukushima; Michitoshi Inoue; Masatake Fukunami; Kiyomu Ishikawa; Hiroshi Inada; Hiroshi Abe

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1984
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 914 KB
• Volume: 17
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0010-4809
• DOI: 10.1016/0010-4809(84)90047-8

✦ Synopsis

A computer-assisted education system for arrhythmia (CAESAR) was developed for students to acquire the ability to logically diagnose complicated arrhythmias. This system has a logical simulator of cardiac rhythm using a mathematical model of the impulse forma tion and conduction system of the heart. A simulated arrhythmia (ECG pattern) is given on a graphic display unit with simulated series of the action potential of five pacemaker centers and the "ladder diagram" of impulse formation and conduction, which show the mechanism of that arrhythmia. For the purpose of the evaluation of this system, 13 medical students were given two types of tests concerning arrhythmias before and after 2-hr learning with this system. The scores they obtained after learning increased significantly from 73.3 2 11.9 to 93.2 2 3.0 (P < 0.001) in one test and from 47.2 t 17.9 to 64.9 + 19.6 (P < 0.001) in another one. These results proved that this CA1 system is useful and effective for training ECG interpretation of arrhythmias.