Assessment of Otolaryngic Knowledge in Primary Care Residents

Abstract

In this sample of non-otolaryngology residents, a minority experienced a clinical rotation in otolaryngology during medical school or residency. This nonvalidated questionnaire also suggested significant deficiencies in basic otolaryngic knowledge in these residents. Identifying mechanisms to improve exposure to otolaryngology in the medical training curriculum is needed.

Qualitative synthesis and systematic review of otolaryngology in undergraduate medical education

“…Otolaryngology was rated as one of the most highly relevant surgical disciplines by PCPs, and identified as a surgical area in which there was a need for additional exposure and training . The four US‐based needs assessments found that otolaryngology complaints were frequent and important, and that few programs required otolaryngology rotations . They also highlighted knowledge deficits regarding otitis media, tonsillitis, indications for tracheostomy and airway obstruction, as well as skill deficits regarding otoscopy and pneumotoscopy .…”

A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Assessment of Otolaryngology Knowledge Among Primary Care Trainees

“…This could explain why the basic assessment scores were low and the desire for additional education was high. For this study, we chose to use a modified version of the survey created by Error et al 11 regarding head and neck diseases and treatments. We chose this instrument because it was the only one of its kind in the literature.…”

“…After approval from the WVU Institutional Review Board (1602996543) and UCD Institutional Review Boar (533222) committees with institutional reciprocation from UCSF, study participants were recruited via directed email or listserv. The participants were invited to fill out an assessment similar to the one created by Error et al, 11 listed in Supplemental Appendix A in the online journal. Since all 3 participating schools have anatomy and their related compulsory lectures in otolaryngology in the fall and early spring of their first year, the educational assessments were sent in March and April.…”

The evaluation of e-learning resources as an adjunct to otolaryngology teaching: a pilot study

“…Clinical presentations related to otolaryngology head and neck surgery (OHNS) are common, comprising of > 20% of all presentations in the primary care setting [9–11]. However, studies have reported poor basic knowledge and exposure to OHNS in the medical school and primary care settings, demonstrating a mismatch between this educational need and the current medical curriculum [12–14]. This mismatch may contribute to diagnostic errors, which account for approximately 14% of negligent adverse events in hospitalized patients [15, 16].…”