ElectrocardiogramNCT07615114
The Effect of ECG Rhythm Virtual Interventions to ECG Interpretation and Competence
A study testing Virtual intervention for ECG rhythms in people with Electrocardiogram and Electrocardiogram Interpretation, run by Tampere University.
Trial summary
The aim of this study is to develop, implement, and evaluate the effects of a virtual ECG rhythm intervention on the interpretation and competence of cardiology nurses in Finnish university hospitals. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Electrocardiogram, Electrocardiogram Interpretation
- What is being tested?
- Virtual intervention for ECG rhythms
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 508 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Aug 2026to 31 Dec 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- cardiology nurses
Who cannot join
- doctors
About this study
Official title: The Effect of ECG Rhythm Virtual Interventions to ECG Interpretation and Competence in Finnish University Hospitals
The aim of this study is to develop, implement, and evaluate the effects of a virtual ECG rhythm intervention on the interpretation and competence of cardiology nurses in Finnish university hospitals. The virtual ECG rhythm intervention consists of a virtual animation component and a virtual simulation component, both incorporating cardiological patient cases with corresponding ECG rhythms. The virtual animation includes educational content on a total of 31 different ECG rhythms, as well as a virtual simulation containing 6-8 different cardiological patient cases with ECG rhythms (covering 11 distinct rhythms).
The study employs a quasi-experimental design. Cardiology nurses are divided into two groups based on hospital: an intervention group and a control group.
Read more
In this study, data will first be collected for the virtual animation component during 2026-2027, followed by data collection for the virtual simulation component during 2027-2028. A baseline measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted for both groups (n = 508) using an online survey (LimeSurvey) prior to the intervention.
The same measurement schedule will be applied to the virtual simulation component during the 2027-2028 data collection period.
In this study, three (3) reminder letters will be sent at weekly intervals to encourage participation in the study, its surveys, and the virtual interventions. These reminder messages will be distributed via email by unit managers or equivalent personnel in each hospital to the participants.
The virtual intervention will be delivered online via a web service (GitHub) link. Research data on ECG interpretation and competence will be collected using an ECG interpretation measurement instrument administered through an electronic survey (LimeSurvey).
The ECG interpretation instrument was previously developed by the researcher and includes ECG recordings from real patient cases, for which prior permission has been obtained in accordance with the practices of a cardiac care unit in a central hospital. The instrument has been partially updated in terms of ECG rhythms, with additional new ECG recordings included. Permission for the new ECG recordings was obtained in April 2023 from a Finnish wellbeing services county. The instrument also includes ECG recordings from a simulation monitor display.
The ECG interpretation instrument begins with 14 background questions. It includes five questions assessing ECG competence and currently contains 31 ECG interpretation questions, compared to the previous 21 items. Additionally, the end of the instrument includes seven questions assessing the experiences of participants in the intervention group regarding the virtual intervention.
These implementation methods aim to control for the potential influence of external variables, as the intervention and survey are identical for all participants. This consistency could not be guaranteed if the virtual ECG interpretation intervention were delivered, for example, as a traditional theory-based lecture.
The results of the study will be analyzed using statistical methods. The findings can be utilized, for example, in the development of ECG rhythm interpretation and competence training programs for cardiology nurses.
Read the detailed description
During the 2026-2027 data collection phase, participants in the intervention group (n = 254) will use the virtual ECG rhythm animation intervention for one month. The experiences of cardiology nurses regarding the virtual ECG rhythm intervention will be collected during the intervention through open-ended questions.
A second measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted immediately after the intervention (one month after the baseline) for both groups: the intervention group (n = 254) and the control group (n = 254). A third measurement will be conducted three months after the intervention, again for both groups.
- Being tested
- Virtual intervention for ECG rhythms
- Keywords
- ECG virtual intervention
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Virtual intervention for ECG rhythmsOther
In this study, data will first be collected for the virtual animation component during 2026-2027, followed by data collection for the virtual simulation component during 2027-2028. A baseline measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted for both groups (n = 508) using an online survey (LimeSurvey) prior to the intervention.
During the 2026-2027 data collection phase, participants in the intervention group (n = 254) will use the virtual ECG rhythm animation intervention for one month. The experiences of cardiology nurses regarding the virtual ECG rhythm intervention will be collected during the intervention through open-ended questions.
A second measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted immediately after the intervention (one month after the baseline) for both groups: the intervention group (n = 254) and the control group (n = 254). A third measurement will be conducted three months after the intervention, again for both groups.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention group | Active comparator | Data will first be collected for the virtual animation component during 2026-2027, followed by data collection for the virtual simulation component during 2027-2028. A baseline measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted for both groups (n = 508) using an online survey (LimeSurvey) prior to the intervention. During the 2026-2027 data collection phase, participants in the intervention group (n = 254) will use the virtual ECG rhythm animation intervention for one month. The experiences of cardiology nurses regarding the virtual ECG rhythm intervention will be collected during the intervention through open-ended questions. A second measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted immediately after the intervention (one month after the baseline) for both groups. A third measurement will be conducted three months after the intervention, again for both groups. The same measurement schedule will be applied to the virtual simulation component. Receives: Other: Virtual intervention for ECG rhythms |
| Control group | No intervention | A baseline measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted for both groups (n = 508) using an online survey (LimeSurvey). A second measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted immediately after the intervention (one month after the baseline) for both groups. And final, third measurement will be conducted three months after the intervention, again for both groups. The respondents in the control group will continue with standard practice while intervention, meaning that they will not receive any educational material related to ECG interpretation and competence. Instead, learning ECG rhythms will rely on their usual learning processes, such as workplace-based learning. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
ECG Interpretation skills
Questionnaire (ECG interpretation Scale) is used to assess ECG interpretation skills and expertise
Measured: from the start of the intervention until its completion, for a period of three months
ECG Interpretation Scale
The ECG interpretation instrument begins with 14 background questions. It includes five questions assessing ECG competence and currently contains 31 ECG interpretation questions.
Answers on the ECG interpretation section are scored such that a correct answer earns one point and an incorrect answer earns zero points. The maximum score on the questionnaire is 31, indicating a very high level of proficiency in ECG interpretation.
Measured: From participation to the end of the intervention (3 months)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 May 2026
- Study start1 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for ElectrocardiogramStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 508 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Tampere University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Meri Matala-aho, Tampere University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07615114
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 38/2026
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 13 May 2026
- Last updated
- 29 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: This study does not collect patient-specific data.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of ECG Rhythm Virtual Interventions to ECG Interpretation and Competence in Finnish University Hospitals
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07615114
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 38/2026
- Keywords
- ECG virtual intervention
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 508 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Tampere UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 29 May 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The aim of this study is to develop, implement, and evaluate the effects of a virtual ECG rhythm intervention on the interpretation and competence of cardiology nurses in Finnish university hospitals. The virtual ECG rhythm intervention consists of a virtual animation component and a virtual simulation component, both incorporating cardiological patient cases with corresponding ECG rhythms. The virtual animation includes educational content on a total of 31 different ECG rhythms, as well as a virtual simulation containing 6-8 different cardiological patient cases with ECG rhythms (covering 11 distinct rhythms).
The study employs a quasi-experimental design. Cardiology nurses are divided into two groups based on hospital: an intervention group and a control group.
In this study, data will first be collected for the virtual animation component during 2026-2027, followed by data collection for the virtual simulation component during 2027-2028. A baseline measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted for both groups (n = 508) using an online survey (LimeSurvey) prior to the intervention.
The same measurement schedule will be applied to the virtual simulation component during the 2027-2028 data collection period.
In this study, three (3) reminder letters will be sent at weekly intervals to encourage participation in the study, its surveys, and the virtual interventions. These reminder messages will be distributed via email by unit managers or equivalent personnel in each hospital to the participants.
The virtual intervention will be delivered online via a web service (GitHub) link. Research data on ECG interpretation and competence will be collected using an ECG interpretation measurement instrument administered through an electronic survey (LimeSurvey).
The ECG interpretation instrument was previously developed by the researcher and includes ECG recordings from real patient cases, for which prior permission has been obtained in accordance with the practices of a cardiac care unit in a central hospital. The instrument has been partially updated in terms of ECG rhythms, with additional new ECG recordings included. Permission for the new ECG recordings was obtained in April 2023 from a Finnish wellbeing services county. The instrument also includes ECG recordings from a simulation monitor display.
The ECG interpretation instrument begins with 14 background questions. It includes five questions assessing ECG competence and currently contains 31 ECG interpretation questions, compared to the previous 21 items. Additionally, the end of the instrument includes seven questions assessing the experiences of participants in the intervention group regarding the virtual intervention.
These implementation methods aim to control for the potential influence of external variables, as the intervention and survey are identical for all participants. This consistency could not be guaranteed if the virtual ECG interpretation intervention were delivered, for example, as a traditional theory-based lecture.
The results of the study will be analyzed using statistical methods. The findings can be utilized, for example, in the development of ECG rhythm interpretation and competence training programs for cardiology nurses.
Detailed description
During the 2026-2027 data collection phase, participants in the intervention group (n = 254) will use the virtual ECG rhythm animation intervention for one month. The experiences of cardiology nurses regarding the virtual ECG rhythm intervention will be collected during the intervention through open-ended questions.
A second measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted immediately after the intervention (one month after the baseline) for both groups: the intervention group (n = 254) and the control group (n = 254). A third measurement will be conducted three months after the intervention, again for both groups.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention group | Active comparator | Other: Virtual intervention for ECG rhythmsData will first be collected for the virtual animation component during 2026-2027, followed by data collection for the virtual simulation component during 2027-2028. A baseline measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted for both groups (n = 508) using an online survey (LimeSurvey) prior to the intervention. During the 2026-2027 data collection phase, participants in the intervention group (n = 254) will use the virtual ECG rhythm animation intervention for one month. The experiences of cardiology nurses regarding the virtual ECG rhythm intervention will be collected during the intervention through open-ended questions. A second measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted immediately after the intervention (one month after the baseline) for both groups. A third measurement will be conducted three months after the intervention, again for both groups. The same measurement schedule will be applied to the virtual simulation component. |
| Control group | No intervention | –A baseline measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted for both groups (n = 508) using an online survey (LimeSurvey). A second measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted immediately after the intervention (one month after the baseline) for both groups. And final, third measurement will be conducted three months after the intervention, again for both groups. The respondents in the control group will continue with standard practice while intervention, meaning that they will not receive any educational material related to ECG interpretation and competence. Instead, learning ECG rhythms will rely on their usual learning processes, such as workplace-based learning. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- cardiology nurses
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- doctors
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual intervention for ECG rhythmsIn this study, data will first be collected for the virtual animation component during 2026-2027, followed by data collection for the virtual simulation component during 2027-2028. A baseline measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted for both groups (n = 508) using an online survey (LimeSurvey) prior to the intervention. During the 2026-2027 data collection phase, participants in the intervention group (n = 254) will use the virtual ECG rhythm animation intervention for one month. The experiences of cardiology nurses regarding the virtual ECG rhythm intervention will be collected during the intervention through open-ended questions. A second measurement of ECG interpretation and competence will be conducted immediately after the intervention (one month after the baseline) for both groups: the intervention group (n = 254) and the control group (n = 254). A third measurement will be conducted three months after the intervention, again for both groups. | Other | Intervention group |
Primary outcome
ECG Interpretation skills
Time frame: from the start of the intervention until its completion, for a period of three months
Questionnaire (ECG interpretation Scale) is used to assess ECG interpretation skills and expertise
ECG Interpretation Scale
Time frame: From participation to the end of the intervention (3 months)
The ECG interpretation instrument begins with 14 background questions. It includes five questions assessing ECG competence and currently contains 31 ECG interpretation questions. Answers on the ECG interpretation section are scored such that a correct answer earns one point and an incorrect answer earns zero points. The maximum score on the questionnaire is 31, indicating a very high level of proficiency in ECG interpretation.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. This study does not collect patient-specific data.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Virtual intervention for ECG rhythms in people with Electrocardiogram and Electrocardiogram Interpretation, run by Tampere University.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
ECG Interpretation skills (time frame: from the start of the intervention until its completion, for a period of three months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 May 2026.