The Internist's Literature on Chronic Rhinosinusitis: An Evaluation of the Amount and Quality of Published Information

Abstract

Most patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are treated by internists, yet the information available to internists about CRS is rarely assessed. The author undertook a study to evaluate the amount and quality of information about CRS that is available to internists. Four information sources were analyzed: (1) fi ve journals routinely read by internists, published over a 10-year period and searched on PubMed for the "exploded" terms chronic and sinusitis;(2) seven representative general and outpatient medicine texts, searched on MD Consult and STAT!Ref;(3) the 14th edition of the Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program (MKSAP 14), a review of internal medicine; and (4) four commonly used Internet databases. The fi ve journals contained a total of 37,250 cited articles of various types over the study period; CRS was mentioned in only 19 of them. The standard medical texts offered little information about CRS, and MKSAP 14 did not mention CRS at all in the text, although it included some information in the questions and answers. Finally, among the online sources, UpToDate, a proprietary Internet database, offered an excellent discourse on CRS; in contrast, the Physicians' Information and Education Resource, maintained by the American College of Physicians, contained no information about CRS in its 436 subject modules. The author concludes that, with few exceptions, the literature routinely available to internists offers little information about CRS.

Use of Advanced Imaging Technology and Endoscopy for Chronic Rhinosinusitis Varies by Physician Specialty

“…Research in chronic rhinosinusitis has focused on the disease as it is typically encountered in otolaryngology clinics and comparatively little research has focused on the large group of patients cared for by primary care providers. 17 This study is an initial step to examine patterns of diagnosis and treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis among primary care physicians. Given the substantial health quality and financial cost burdens of rhinosinusitis, it is equally important that we understand the patients cared for by primary care providers.…”

A diagnostic dilemma: chronic sinusitis diagnosed by non‐otolaryngologists

“…The majority of visits for chronic sinusitis are with non-otolaryngologists, yet beyond the otolaryngology journals, there is much less literature about diagnosis and treatment of chronic sinusitis. As one investigator stated, “the information about chronic sinusitis available to internists is scant and occasionally inaccurate.” 7 Furthermore, the otolaryngology literature focuses on chronic sinusitis as it is diagnosed and cared for by otolaryngologists. We know very little about chronic sinusitis care outside our specialty.…”