Utility of a smartphone-enabled otoscope in the instruction of otoscopy and middle ear anatomy

• Published in: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology 2019-10, Vol.276 (10), p.2953-2956
• Main Authors: Hakimi, Amir A., Lalehzarian, Aaron S., Lalehzarian, Simon P., Azhdam, Ariel M., Nedjat-Haiem, Sharon, Boodaie, Benjamin D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Diagnostic Techniques, Otological - instrumentation; Ear, Middle - anatomy & histology; Ear, Middle - diagnostic imaging; Educational Measurement - methods; Female; Head and Neck Surgery; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurosurgery; Otolaryngology - education; Otorhinolaryngology; Otoscopes; Otoscopy - methods; Short Communication; Smartphone; Teaching
• ISSN: 0937-4477; 1434-4726
• DOI: 10.1007/s00405-019-05559-6

Purpose To present the utility of a smartphone-enabled otoscope as a teaching adjunct in pre-clinical otoscopy training. Methods 60 pre-clinical medical students were randomized into either a control group using a conventional otoscope or an experimental group using a smartphone-enabled otoscope. Participants in each group were trained to use their assigned device and were given time to practice on a colleague’s ear. Participants then completed a questionnaire indicating their ability to visualize anatomical landmarks of the middle ear as well as their confidence in performing a middle ear examination using their device. Results Compared to participants using the conventional otoscope, significantly more students using the smartphone-enabled otoscope identified the umbo (93% versus 63%, P  = 0.005), the short process of the malleus (67% versus 33%, P  = 0.008), the cone of light (100% versus 70%, P  = 0.001), and the pars flaccida (60% versus 33%, P  = 0.03). Furthermore, participants who used the smartphone-enabled otoscope reported significantly increased confidence in performing otoscopy compared to those who used a conventional otoscope (4.1 ± 0.7 versus 2.8 ± 0.9, P