Ten Top Topics That Neuro-Otologists Think General Practitioners and Family Medicine Specialists Must Know: A Multi-Center Study Using Delphi Method

Masoud Motasaddi Zarandy; Shadman Nemati; Ahmad Daneshi; Seyed Basir Hashemi; Ali Eftekharian; Mohsen Rajati; Ali Kouhi; Sevil Nasirmohtaram; Ehsan Kazemnejad Leyli; Maryam Khoshbakht

doi:10.18502/acta.v61i6.13835

Masoud Motasaddi Zarandy Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Shadman Nemati Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Ahmad Daneshi Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, ENT and Head and Neck Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Basir Hashemi Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Otolaryngology Research Center, Shiraz, Iran
Ali Eftekharian Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Cochlear Implant Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohsen Rajati Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Sinus and Surgical Endoscopic Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Ali Kouhi Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sevil Nasirmohtaram Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Ehsan Kazemnejad Leyli Department of Biostatistics, Otolaryngology Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Maryam Khoshbakht Department of Nursing, Guilan University of Medical. Sciences, Rasht, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/acta.v61i6.13835

Keywords: Otology; Medical education; Continuing medical education; Graduate medical education

Abstract

In order to decrease medical errors and improve organized, targeted education pre- and post-graduation, we intended to detect 10 most important concepts that neuro-otologists believe family physicians and general practitioners must know. A multi-center study based on Delphi’s method was designed and conducted in three stages. Of 31 topics gathered by expert panel, 10 top priorities were ranked based on 50 neuro-otologists’ opinion over the country. Early diagnosis and management of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, foreign body removal from external ear canal, proper management of otitis extern, and management of emergency situations in chronic otitis media gained the highest scores among all. Also, some topics, such as managing serous and acute otitis media, differentiating peripheral vs. central vertigos, and early hearing screening at birth were among top topics, contrary to others, such as surgery in only hearing ears, or hearing losses after COM surgeries. Almost all of the top-ranked topics are among critical/organ saving, or most prevalent medical concerns in all of the world. Sudden deafness, complicated COM, and mis-diagnosing vertigo may be organ/life threatening, while foreign bodies or inflammations of external ear, acute or serous otitis media, and congenital hearing loss are among the most prevalent medical problems worldwide, with numerous malpractices in their diagnosis and management. Regarding educational and practical priorities should be considered a basic step in neurotology field, and targeted programming policies.