JMIR Med Educ. 2025 Jun 20. doi: 10.2196/69395. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Status epilepticus (SE) represents a critical pediatric emergency necessitating prompt treatment and monitoring. The diagnosis of nonconvulsive SE and the monitoring of convulsive SE require EEG recordings. The integration of simplified point-of-care EEG (pocEEG) may improve care in pediatric emergency departments (PEDs). Objective.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the efficacy of an electronic EEG self-learning module for improving the interpretation of normal cortical activity, artifacts, and seizure patterns in pocEEG by pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) providers.
METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary academic PED and primarily targeted senior medical staff (SMS) while also engaging junior medical staff (JMS), and registered nurses (RNs). A novel EEG e-learning module trained participants to identify normal cortical activity, artifacts, and seizure patterns. The study comprised pretest, posttest, and three-month retention assessments to evaluate the EEG Total Score as its primary outcome and basic EEG knowledge and confidence measures as secondary outcomes. Outcomes were analyzed using mixed-effects proportional odds logistic regression models.
RESULTS: Of 102 PEM providers invited, 61 individuals participated (25 SMS, 15 JMS, 21 RNs), and 29 finished the three-tiered study. In finishers, the EEG Total Score (max = 12 points), indicative of accurate EEG classification, increased substantially between pretest and posttest from a median of 7 (IQR 5-8) to 10 (IQR 7-11) points, corresponding with an increase in the odds of achieving higher EEG Total Scores at the posttest (OR 24.18, 95% CI 7.398 to 79.043, P value < .001). At the retention test the EEG total score remained elevated, although to a lesser extent (median 8 points [IQR 6-9]). Similar trends were observed in secondary outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an e-learning EEG module improved the ability of PEM providers to interpret EEGs. This study highlights the feasibility of imparting basic EEG skills to non-experts through targeted educational interventions. However, the sustained retention of such skills requires improvement, emphasizing the necessity for ongoing refresher training.
PMID:40543021 | DOI:10.2196/69395
