title: Evaluation of dysphonic patients by general otolaryngologists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the instruments used by general otolaryngologists to visualize the larynx, assess the perception of the instruments' capabilities, and understand their comfort diagnosing specific etiologies of dysphonia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand randomly chosen general otolaryngologists from American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery were mailed a survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 27.8%. Mean years in practice were 19.5. Mirror and fiberoptic laryngoscopy were most commonly used. Approximately 84.1% used stroboscopy and 33.7% reported laryngoscopy could assess vibration. Respondents were more comfortable diagnosing conditions with obvious laryngeal structural abnormalities compared with those without, such as central neurologic disorders (P≤0.001). Approximately 46.5% were concerned about overdiagnosing laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although 84.1% of general otolaryngologists use stroboscopy, one-third may not appreciate the differences between stroboscopy and laryngoscopy. General otolaryngologists are less comfortable diagnosing voice disorders without obvious laryngeal structural abnormalities, and nearly 50% are concerned that they overdiagnose LPR.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Duke Voice Care Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. seth.cohen@duke.edu
authors.forename: Seth M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pitman
authors.forename: J Pieter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Noordzij
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Courey
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007830:Larynx / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D049489:Stroboscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014741:Video Recording; D014833:Voice Quality