Medical education and attitudes about acute otitis media guidelines: a survey of Italian pediatricians and otolaryngologists.
BACKGROUND
Medical education and guidelines have been advocated as major means of improving the management of otitis media. Limited data are available concerning medical education in acute otitis media (AOM), and the association between medical education and attitudes about AOM guidelines has never been explored.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of medical education concerning AOM, of a positive attitude toward AOM guidelines and of appropriate diagnostic methods in a large sample of Italian pediatricians (PEDs) and otolaryngologist (ENTs) and to look for possible associations between them.


METHODS
This cross-sectional survey was based on the responses of 2012 physicians (1160 PEDs and 852 ENTs) to a mailed anonymous questionnaire.


RESULTS
Very few (9%) of the responders had received any AOM medical education during medical school, but the number increased during residency (38%) and peaked in the postresidency period (53%) with slight differences between PEDs and ENTs. Forty percent reported a positive attitude toward AOM guidelines, with PEDs having a better attitude than ENTs (46% vs. 32%, P < 0.001). An appropriate diagnostic method for AOM was reported by only 21% of the physicians (PEDs 11% vs. ENTs 35%, P < 0.001). AOM medical education during postresidency and reporting the use of appropriate diagnostic methods were significantly associated with a positive attitude about AOM guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Specific educational programs concerning AOM should be implemented and rigorously evaluated, before physicians become fully trained PEDs and ENTs, and maintained during postresidency. Evidence-based guidelines should be further incorporated into everyday practice of both PEDs and ENTs.
Marchisio
Paola
P
Department of Pediatrics, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milan, Italy.
Mira
Eugenio
E
Klersy
Catherine
C
Pagella
Fabio
F
Esposito
Susanna
S
Bianchini
Sonia
S
Di Mauro
Giuseppe
G
Fusi
Michela
M
Nazzari
Erica
E
Tagliabue
Marta
M
Bellussi
Luisa
L
Principi
Nicola
N
D000208:Acute Disease; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D010820:Physicians / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic