Is an 'Introduction to ENT course' the answer for safe ENT care?

Abstract

ENT presentations are common both in primary care and accident and emergency departments. Unfortunately, many clinicians are not comfortable handling ENT emergencies due to a lack of knowledge and skill stemming from an undergraduate level onwards. An 'Introduction to ENT' course has been cited as an answer to bridge the gap in knowledge and promote confidence in doctors. A pre- and post-course analysis was performed on 29 participants attending an 'Introduction to ENT' course using a standardised questionnaire. Five were excluded from our analysis. Of the remaining 24, there was a lack of significant changes on the amount of ENT knowledge gained (pre-course mean score 2.71 vs post-course mean 4.63, p=0), confidence in dealing with ENT emergencies (pre-course mean score 2.54 vs post-course mean score 4.58, p=0) and confidence performing ENT procedures (pre-course mean score 2.375 vs post-course mean score 4.46, p=0). We feel that the course alone is insufficient in providing a basic and safe emergency ENT service. We suggest a period of shadowing be introduced in addition to the compulsory induction programme for junior doctors rotating through ENT.