A randomized controlled educational pilot trial of interictal epileptiform discharge identification for neurology residents - Data and Code

**Objective.** To assess the effectiveness of an educational program
leveraging technology-enhanced learning and retrieval practice to teach
trainees how to correctly identify interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs).

**Methods.** Bi-institutional prospective randomized controlled trial with
junior neurology residents. The intervention included three video tutorials on
International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology (IFCN) criteria for IED
identification plus rating 500 candidate IEDs with immediate feedback via a
web browser (intervention 1) or an iOS app (intervention 2). The control group
received no intervention. All participants completed surveys and tests at
baseline and study completion.

**Results.** Twenty-one residents enrolled (control n = 8; intervention 1 n =
6; intervention 2 n = 7); 19 had no prior EEG experience. Intervention 1
showed significant improvements in AUC (0.74 -> 0.85), sensitivity (0.53 ->
0.75), and confidence in IED identification (1.33 -> 2.33; all p < 0.05).
Intervention 2 improved AUC (0.81 -> 0.86) and confidence in IED and spike-
wave identification (2.00 -> 3.14; p < 0.05). Controls showed no significant
improvements.

**Significance.** This program led to significant subjective and objective
improvements in IED identification. Rating candidate IEDs with instant
feedback on a web browser (intervention 1) generated greater objective
improvement than rating candidate IEDs on an iOS app.