Training general physicians in otoscopy skills applying simulator

• Olga Yu. Kuznetsova
• Zakhar V. Lopatin
• Ludmila N. Degtyareva
• Karina V. Ovakimyan
• Olga I. Frolova
• Albina R. Madysheva
• Elizaveta A. Klyuchuk
• Anastasia S. Gunina

Abstract

In the article results of assessing the level of practical skills in performing otoscopy by General practitioners with different work experience, as well as by therapists who were trained in a cycle of professional retraining in the specialty "Family medicine" are represented.

the aim of the study was to examine the level of otoscopy skills among General practitioners depending on length of work and among therapists, trainees of the professional retraining cycle in the specialty "Family medicine", depending on specialty of faculty member who conducted the training (the General practitioner or Otolaryngologist).

Material and methods. This study was carried out by filling out a questionnaire that includes socio-demographic characteristics, and a checklist for checking the level of otoscopy proficiency on the basis of Department of family medicine of North-Western state Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov. Statistical data analysis was performed using the SPSS 22.0 program (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). 39 people took part in the study: 24 General practitioners with more than 5 years of experience and 15 therapists.

Results. Analysis of the results showed that 86.7% of therapists who were trained in otoscopy using a simulator successfully coped with the skill implementation, demonstrating correct implementation of more than 60% of the manipulation elements in accordance with the checklist points, in contrast to General practitioners, among whom only 40% achieved the same result (p<0.05).

Conclusions. 1. The assessment of the level of otoscopy proficiency showed that General practitioners with work experience demonstrated a significantly lower level of proficiency in this manipulation in comparison with therapists who were trained in otorhinolaryngology using a simulator as part of retraining program in the specialty "Family medicine". 2. For more effective mastering of otoscopy by students, a simulator can be used. 3. Training in otoscopy using a simulator can be carried out with a comparable effectiveness by both an otorhinolaryngologist and a General practitioner. 4. The developed checklist for checking the level of practical otoscopy skills can be implemented for the current assessment of mastering of the competence, as well as in the process of primary specialized accreditation.

Keywords:otoscopy, General practice, practical skills, accreditation, simulation equipment, checklist

References

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