title: Pediatric otolaryngology in the United States: demographics, workforce perceptions, and current practices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate self-reported workforce needs and demands, professional activities, and the clinical practices of pediatric otolaryngologists in the United States for the purpose of better understanding the pediatric otolaryngology workforce and predicting manpower needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Web-based survey was sent to all members of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO). It achieved a 39.3% response rate, with a total of 99 US member respondents. We compared this sample to the overall US ASPO membership to determine if our respondent cohort was representative of ASPO demographics.
  
  
  METHODS
  All members of ASPO.
  
  
  METHODS
  Responses were categorized by demographics and nature of respondent practice (academic vs private practice).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respondents were representative of the US ASPO membership. Most of the respondents practiced in an academic setting (n = 70; 70%). Academicians reported seeing a higher percentage of patients with Medicaid public insurance than did private practitioners (34% vs 25.0%) (P = .03). Academicians spent a greater portion of their time than private practitioners on research (14.4% vs 6.6% of time) (P < .001) and teaching (26.9% vs 12.8% of time) (P = .002). With the exception of choanal atresia repair, there were no differences in the types of airway, otologic, head and neck, and plastic and reconstructive surgery performed by the 2 groups. Although fewer than half of the respondents (47%; n = 44) believed that there presently is a shortage of pediatric otolaryngology manpower, most (68%; n = 63) (P = .01) believed that there would be a shortage in 5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediatric otolaryngologists predict an increased demand for their services in the near future. The only differences in the clinical practices of academic and private pediatric otolaryngologists are patient payer mix and the amount of time devoted to teaching.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA. dpreciad@cnmc.org
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Preciado
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tunkel
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zalzal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States