Curriculum Innovations: Developing an EEG Workshop for Hands-on Training in Electroencephalography During Resident Rotation in Clinical Neurophysiology

ABSTRACT

A 3-hour hands-on EEG workshop was conducted as a part of resident rotation in clinical neurophysiology to determine its feasibility and educational value for neurology residents, medical students, and EEG technologists, with the learning objectives of motivating interest in clinical electroencephalography, enhancing ability to recognize a normal EEG and identify physiological and non-physiological artifacts, and enhancing teaching, organizational and communication skills of EEG technologists. The workshop included a demonstration of EEG electrode placement according to the 10–20 System on a resident volunteer by the EEG technologist. Activation procedures (photic stimulation and hyperventilation) were demonstrated to the residents during the 25-minute recording. A board-certified epileptologist later reviewed the record with the residents. Resident and EEG technologist feedback on the workshop was obtained via non-formal e-mail request. All residents rated the workshop highly and found it more engaging and motivating than the didactic EEG lecture in which basics of EEG recording are reviewed. The residents gained improved awareness and appreciation of the role of the technologist and the skill and time involved in obtaining an EEG record. The EEG technologist appreciated the face-to-face interaction with the residents and felt part of the patient care team. A hands-on EEG workshop as a part of resident clinical neurophysiology rotation is feasible, effective, and motivating in teaching residents and medical students the basis of EEG recording and recognition of common physiological and non-physiological artifacts in a normal record.

KEY WORDS:

• Clinical neurophysiology
• EEG
• EEG technologist
• epilepsy
• residency training

Disclosure Statement

The author serves as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC). The views expressed by the author are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the institutions and organizations which the author serves.