Abstract
BackgroundAcute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common conditions in the pediatric population and a common reason for physicians to prescribe antibiotics. Most children will develop otitis media at least once during their life.ObjectivesOur study aimed to evaluate and compare the adherence of family medicine physicians, otolaryngologists, pediatricians, and emergency medicine physicians to the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians guidelines for the diagnosis and the management of AOM.MethodsThis is a retrospective study that was conducted at the Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs affiliated hospitals and primary clinics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All patients diagnosed with AOM and treated between 2016 and 2019 were included in the study. Exclusion criteria included any patient above the age of 18 years old or patients with incomplete data on their files. Variables included demographic data of the patients and treating physicians, associated infections, and whether the treating physician followed the diagnosis and management guidelines.ResultsMost patients were below the age of two years. Emergency medicine physicians were the most common to treat patients with AOM. Although most documentations were sufficient, 39.8% were insufficient or not written. Most (74%) physicians adhered to the diagnosis guidelines, while 57.5% adhered to management guidelines.ConclusionAlthough most physicians adhered to the diagnosis and treatment guidelines, stressing on the matter is essential to avoid unnecessary antibiotics use. We recommend further prospective studies with a bigger sample size of more than one center to have a more accurate reflection of the current situation.
Highlights
Otitis media (OM) is a group of middle ear conditions and includes acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME); it is commonly seen as a pathological condition in children and adolescents [1]
80% of all pediatric population will suffer from otitis media during their lifetime [4]
No current guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Acute otitis media (AOM) are implemented at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), we found that most physicians followed the diagnosis and treatment Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)/Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) guidelines
Summary
Otitis media (OM) is a group of middle ear conditions and includes acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME); it is commonly seen as a pathological condition in children and adolescents [1]. AOM is defined as an acute inflammation of the middle ear space characterized by otalgia, fever, irritability, and poor feeding in young children [2]. OME is most commonly preceded by AOM, but it can occur independently [2]. In the United States, around 60-80% of children develop AOM within their first year of life, while 80-90% will develop AOM between two and three years of age [2]. Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common conditions in the pediatric population and a common reason for physicians to prescribe antibiotics. Most children will develop otitis media at least once during their life
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