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

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.