Handy EKG: A Low-Cost Electrocardiograph for Primary Care.

Background Cardiovascular diseases constitute the majority of noncommunicable disease deaths worldwide. In Honduras, cardiovascular diseases represent the fifth cause of death among individuals aged 45 to 49 years, while 20% of emergency room visits are due to cerebrovascular events, heart failure, and acute myocardial infarction. Methodology A low-cost three-lead electrocardiograph (ECG) (Handy EKG) was designed and manufactured for primary care. The device is supported by Bluetooth connectivity and machine learning. Device readings were collected from volunteers and compared to those obtained with a conventional 12-lead ECG. Results The device provided readings of lead one of a TDOU model CMS600G 12-lead ECG to monitor and diagnose bradyarrhythmia and tachyarrhythmias. Overall, 96% (49) of the readings showed a similarity in morphology, amplitude, and duration of waves, segments, and complexes compared to a 12-lead ECG. The device showed potential for application in primary care and intrahospital settings due to its continuous monitoring capabilities, portability, and possible connectivity with mobile devices. Conclusions The results indicate that the designed platform is safe, offers good quality in its operation at all levels, and provides ECG results equivalent to those of a conventional ECG in most cases (considering only one lead).

Barriers and Solutions to Successful Problem-Based Learning Delivery in Developing Countries - A Literature Review.

Problem-based learning (PBL) was introduced in the 1960s as an alternative to traditional teacher-centered and discipline-based preclinical medical education. A literature review was conducted to explore the barriers and solutions to successful PBL uptake and delivery in developing countries. The review involved the search of articles and scientific studies on PubMed, The Lancet, and Scielo. The review focused on the medical education literature, using as a primary search criterion "problem-based learning" in combination with "developing countries" and "education". The search was limited to articles in Spanish and English published between 2011 and November 2021, except for three articles due to their relevance to the subject. Faculty development programs are the cornerstone when implementing a new methodology in developing countries. Early career development, PBL methodology, and the available assessment options should be the primary learning objectives of these programs. Stakeholders will need to plan using available resources following the experience of other countries and institutions encouraging collaborative development. Evaluation and assessment will be crucial to understand the impact of PBL, and considerations should be taken to implement an integrated curriculum. Medical Education Research should be encouraged, appraised, and disseminated to improve evidence-based decision-making, creating a constant development cycle. PBL is innovative and represents many unanswered questions that will develop in the following decade as more schools implement new methodologies and Research on PBL.