Publication:

A cross-sectional e-survey to map clinical practice of electrocardiogram use as a screening tool in outpatient department: India office electrocardiogram e-survey

Background Early detection of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities in high risk cardiovascular patients with routine ECG screening is the need of the hour. The aim of the e-survey was to understand the use of ECG in high risk cardio-metabolically deranged patients at outpatient departments (OPDs) by Indian physicians.

Methods A cross-sectional India office ECG (IOECG) e-survey was conducted using Google form questionnaire from November 2021 to December 2021 among Indian physicians. Survey results were collected and analysed using Google form survey tool.

Results We received total of 1863 responses. The results of the survey showed that while 90% of physicians agreed to the necessity of doing 12 lead ECG of cardio-metabolically deranged patients, only 61% of all physicians could perform ECG screening in less than 40% of high risk cardio-metabolic patients mainly, due to several practical challenges. Among physicians, 40.2% physicians believed that 12 lead ECG was too time consuming, 35.8% physicians believed that the unavailability of ECG device was common reason while 27.5% physicians believed that there was a lack of trained staff. Majority of physicians (69.7%) agreed to use point of care ECG device which can be a solution for more screening of such patients whether symptomatic or asymptomatic. According to the survey, 88.7% physicians would appreciate if a portable handheld ECG device was made available to facilitate screening in their practice.

Conclusions There is a need of the portable handheld ECG device which helps physicians to screen large number of cardio-metabolically deranged patients in their busy OPDs.