ENT in general practice: training, experience and referral rates

Abstract

A postal survey of 500 general practitioners (GPs) in south-west England was undertaken to evaluate the levels of undergraduate and postgraduate otolaryngology training and/or experience received by GPs in that area. Most GPs had received two weeks of undergraduate training in ENT, which had involved no formal assessment. Three-quarters of GPs considered this inadequate. A quarter of GPs had completed a hospital post in ENT prior to entering general practice, most of which lasted three months. Sixty-one per cent of GPs had received some formal postgraduate training in ENT, in the form of courses, lectures or hospital training sessions. Almost half of the GPs considered this inadequate. Seventy-five per cent of GPs stated they would like further training in ENT. Subjective estimates of referral rates to hospital ENT specialist clinics varied considerably. This study illustrates the variability and level of dissatisfaction regarding ENT training amongst GPs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

A need for otolaryngology education among primary care providers

“…There is a paucity of studies on CME in otolaryngology for PCPs. A survey of general practitioners (GP) in England showed that 75% would like further training in otolaryngology (13). Three-quarters of these GPs felt that their undergraduate training in otolaryngology was inadequate and almost half felt that their postgraduate training in otolaryngology was inadequate (13).…”

“…The third is in practice with continuing medical education (CME). Several studies have examined the otolaryngology training in undergraduate medical education (6–11) and postgraduate medical education (12, 13). There is, however, a paucity of studies on CME in otolaryngology for PCPs.…”

Prioritising topics for the undergraduate ENT curriculum

“…However, the structure of postgraduate training is such that not all non-ENT doctors will rotate through ENT, therefore ENT in the undergraduate curriculum assumes a relatively greater importance compared to other specialties 1,6 . However, a 2004 study in the UK found that only 78% of medical schools had a compulsory ENT attachment, and the average length of time spent in ENT was a week and a half 7 .…”

“…Both the proportion of medical schools offering undergraduate ENT and the duration of attachment appears to have reduced recently 8 . Numerous surveys have shown that most junior doctors in emergency medicine, general practice, and other specialties felt that an increase in undergraduate ENT training was warranted 2,6,9,10 . A link to patient care has also been shown, as the quality of care was lower (as defined by higher emergency admission rates) in hospitals where the ENT first on-call tier service is provided by generic junior doctors rather than by ENT-specific doctors 11 .…”

Otorhinolaryngology – not just tonsils and grommets: Insights into the ENT scene in South Africa

“…In the paediatric population, this figure rises to around 50%. [2] As of 31 March 2012, 38 236 medical practitioners are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), of whom only 0.9% are ENT specialists (344 practitioners). [3,4] In addition, almost 70% of the SA has the highest number of HIV-infected individuals in any country, with the highest prevalence among people between the ages of 15 and 49 years.…”