Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32960350›Full record

Trial reportEuropean archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery2021

A randomised trial to assess the educational benefit of a smartphone otoscope in undergraduate medical training.

James R Schuster-Bruce, Asha Ali, Minh Van, Jesus Rogel-Salazar, Enyinnaya Ofo, Eamon Shamil

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
2.1field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 20 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Telemedicine-Enabled Otoscopes as Catalysts for Accessible and Preventive Ear Health Care: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Indian journal of community medicine : official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

James R Schuster-BruceDepartment of Ear, Nose and Throat, Head and Neck surgery, St George's University Hospitals Foundation Trust, London, UK. James.schuster.bruce@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8530-1643
Asha AliDepartment of Ear, Nose and Throat, Head and Neck surgery, St George's University Hospitals Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Minh VanSt George's University, London, UK.
Jesus Rogel-SalazarBlackett Laboratory, Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Enyinnaya OfoDepartment of Ear, Nose and Throat, Head and Neck surgery, St George's University Hospitals Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Eamon ShamilDepartment of Ear, Nose and Throat, Head and Neck surgery, St George's University Hospitals Foundation Trust, London, UK.
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · GBImperial College London · GBSt George's, University of London · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeCompetent otoscopy is a key otolaryngology skill for a broad range of medical careers, yet undergraduate's confidence to perform otoscopy is reported as low. Smartphone otoscopes have been suggested to improve undergraduates learning of normal eardrum anatomy because unlike the traditional otoscope, the learner and educator share the same image. This study aimed to evaluate whether a smartphone otoscope could enhance medical undergraduates recognition of common ear pathology.

methods52 medical students were randomised into a standard group that used a traditional otoscope and an intervention group that used a smartphone otoscope. Both groups received a short didactic presentation on the recognition of common ear pathologies and were asked to diagnose four simulated pathologies. Both groups received feedback and guidance on how to better visualise the tympanic membrane. Force response items and 5-point Likert scales loaded on an electronic platform recorded their diagnosis and their perceptions towards the otoscope.

resultsThe smartphone-group (n = 20) had higher overall rates of correct diagnosis compared to control (n = 22) (84% vs. 39%, p = < 0.001). Only the grommet station did not show a significant improvement between the two groups (100% vs. 91%, p = 0.49). 90% (n = 20) of participants felt the smartphone otoscope was preferential for their learning. The same number expressed that they want to use it in future learning. The remainder were indifferent.

conclusionsThe smartphone otoscope enabled learners to better observe and recognise middle ear pathology. This popular learning tool has the potential to accelerate the learning curve of otoscopy and therefore improve the proficiency of future doctors at recognising middle ear diseases.

Indexed as

OtolaryngologyOtoscopesHumansOtoscopySmartphoneTympanic MembraneEducationMedical educationOtologyPost-graduate educationRandomised-controlled trialsRoboticsTechnologyUndergraduate education

Identifiers

PMID32960350
OpenAlexW3087435282

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.