Traumatology-an interdisciplinary task: exclusively for educational purposes?

Abstract

Traumatology of the head and neck region is not only apart of otorhinolaryngology, but also has alarge overlap with neighboring disciplines of the head and neck region. In Freiburg, an interdisciplinary lecture on "ENT emergencies" was implemented in the 21/22 winter semester. The aim was to provide an even more realistic view on interdisciplinary patient care and to make evident the areas of intersection of four of the major head disciplines (otorhinolaryngology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, and maxillofacial surgery). Anew, special lecture in otorhinolaryngology was implemented as part of the regular online lecture series accompanying the semester. With reference to the clinical care of ENT emergencies, possible overlaps with neighboring disciplines were identified and explained by the discipline representatives or discussed in front of and with the auditorium. At the end of the semester, all participating students (n = 173) were invited to evaluate the seminar using the survey tool "EvaSys" (EvaSys GmbH, Lüneburg, Germany). In total, 78students participated in the evaluation process. The new lecture concept was very well accepted and immediately ranked top among the interdisciplinary lecture titles within the ENT lecture series. The clear communication of the term "interdisciplinarity" in the sense of acomplementary clinical cooperation was also very successful and was appreciated accordingly by students during the evaluation process. Pragmatic presentation of ideal clinical patient care using an interdisciplinary approach is possible within the regular ENT lecture series. This realistic portrayal, beyond any technical and/or professional differences, is of great interest to students and is considered clinically relevant. Thus, interdisciplinary lectures provide avaluable tool to teach the fundamental values of clinical interdisciplinary management for the best possible patient care.