A mixed methods comparative evaluation of a low cost otoscope (Arclight) with a traditional device in twenty‐one clinicians

Hey, Shi Ying; Buckley, Joanna C.; Shahsavari, Somayyeh; Kousha, Obaid; Haddow, K; Blaikie, Andrew; Walker, F.D.L.

doi:10.1111/coa.13403

Cited by 3 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…While the practical attributes and diagnostic effectiveness of the Arclight device were also comparatively evaluated in a similar study design by Hey et al, 15 there were several important differences with this current study. The previous study was performed among ENT practitioners in a high resource country (United Kingdom) and within a secondary care setting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Participants were not from a low resource setting and were not from the range of mid‐level ENT practitioners that the AO was originally developed for. Although Hey et al 15 also demonstrated the non‐inferiority of the AO to a traditional device, the opinions relating to acceptability and usability should not be assumed to be the same as those from a different range of cadres from an LMIC. Our study is therefore unique in exploring opinions of a different range of users from a different and more relevant resource setting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative evaluation of a low‐cost solar powered otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi

Balfour

McCarthy

Hey

et al. 2021

Laryngoscope Investig Oto

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Objectives To comparatively evaluate a low‐cost otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi. Methods The study is a prospective, comparative, qualitative observational survey of health care worker's opinions using 5‐point Likert rating scales and tick box categories in a 10‐item survey questionnaire. Twenty‐five mixed cadre health care workers from the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blantyre in Malawi were recruited. Outcomes measures used were ease of speculum attachment, handling, insertion, stability, the quality of view, color, build, brightness, overall ease of use, and their suitability for local work. Results The low‐cost otoscope scored statistically higher in overall combined performance, as well as in the remaining four out of the nine attributes. Notably, 54.2% of users rated the low‐cost device more suitable than the traditional device for use in low‐middle income countries, 25% were equivocal, and 20.8% preferred the traditional device. Conclusion This study found the Arclight otoscope to be an appropriate and practical substitute for more expensive traditional otoscopes for the delivery of ENT services in low resource settings. Level of Evidence N/A

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative evaluation of a low‐cost solar powered otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi

Balfour

McCarthy

Hey

et al. 2021

Laryngoscope Investig Oto

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“…In view of the growing positive evidence base,9–13 the International Association of Prevention of Blindness has endorsed the AO by including it on the ‘Standard List’ of recommended device for use in LMICs with over 10 000 devices currently in use around the world 19. Our study adds further evidence that adoption of the AO by healthcare systems in LMICs can assist in the diagnosis of eye disease reducing needless blindness in these regions where the burden is greatest yet access to diagnostic devices least.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Importantly, when sold in bulk, it can be purchased for £10 per unit. Initial evaluation studies have shown the device to be at least as effective as a traditional device and perceived as easier to use 10–13…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In view of the growing positive evidence base(9)(10)(11)(12)(13) the International Association of Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has endorsed the Arclight by including it on the 'Standard List' of recommended device for use in LMICs with over 10,000 devices currently in use around the world (19). Our study adds further evidence that adoption of the Arclight by health care systems in LMICs can assist in the diagnosis of eye disease reducing needless blindness in these regions where the burden is greatest yet access to diagnostic devices least.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTWe would like to acknowledge the assistance of the staff of the School of Optometry, College of Allied Health Sciences and the department of Paediatrics at the Kamuzu Central Hospital Campus in Lilongwe, Malawi and in particular Dr Ajib Phiri the Assistant Dean for his continued support in this work.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Comparative evaluation of a low cost direct ophthalmoscope (Arclight) for red reflex assessment among healthcare workers in Malawi

et al. 2020

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We compared the diagnostic performance and ease of use of a new solar powered low-cost Arclight direct ophthalmoscope (AO) to a more expensive traditional direct ophthalmoscope (TDO) (Keeler Professional V.2.8) in detecting abnormal red reflexes in simulated eyes. Both devices were used by 19 optometry students and 17 paediatric doctors based in the Kamuzu Central Hospital Campus in Lilongwe, Malawi. Participants examined four normal and four abnormal red reflexes using the two devices in random order. We scored the participants on their ability to identify clinical signs and make a diagnosis. Participants scored each device for ‘ease of use’. There was no statistically significant difference in diagnostic performance or ‘ease of use’ between the AO and the TDO when attempting to detect abnormal red reflexes in simulated eyes. We conclude that AO is an inexpensive yet equally effective alternative to the TDO in detecting red reflexes and due to its low cost, portability and consumable independence is well suited for use in low-income and middle-income countries.

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Design and Validation of a Low-Cost, Open-Source, 3D-Printed Otoscope

Lowe,

Bagha,

Inayat

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The modern otoscope is an indispensable instrument utilized by primary care physicians as the gold standard tool to diagnose an array of otologic diseases and conditions. At present, commercially available, traditional otoscopes remain cost-prohibitive to many potential users despite limited innovation since its invention in the early 19th century. In this publication, the design and assembly of a low-cost, open-source, 3D-printed otoscope, the Glia Otoscope V1.0, is outlined. Subsequently, we describe the benchtop evaluation conducted, which measured several outcomes relevant to otoscopy performance against a traditional, gold standard otoscope, the Welch Allyn Rechargeable V3.5 Halogen HPX Otoscope. Measured outcomes included illuminance, correlated color temperature, color rendering index, spatial resolution, field of view, weight, battery life, and cost. Overall, the Glia Otoscope V1.0 demonstrated comparable performance across measured outcomes against the traditional otoscope. Further validation in the clinical setting is warranted as the Glia Otoscope V1.0 and its future iterations hold tremendous potential in improving access and alleviating the burden of otologic disease in lower and middle-income countries. Finally, we present a novel tool, the Otoscope Assessment Tool, which establishes a standard set of performance characteristics for benchtop evaluation of otoscope performance.

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A mixed methods comparative evaluation of a low cost otoscope (Arclight) with a traditional device in twenty‐one clinicians

Cited by 3 publications

References 8 publications

Comparative evaluation of a low‐cost solar powered otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi

Comparative evaluation of a low‐cost solar powered otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi

Comparative evaluation of a low cost direct ophthalmoscope (Arclight) for red reflex assessment among healthcare workers in Malawi

Design and Validation of a Low-Cost, Open-Source, 3D-Printed Otoscope

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