title: Images of otoscopy: rate and extent of non-compliance with good practice standards.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The British Society of Audiology has produced clear guidelines as to how otoscopy should be undertaken; however, no nationally recognised guidelines exist for the wider clinical community. Images of otoscopy appear in many books, journals, magazines and websites.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the rate of non-compliance with good practice in images of otoscopy, the seriousness of the breach, and whether this is more common in sites for professionals or the general public.
  
  
  METHODS
  Google Images was searched using the terms 'otoscopy' and 'ear examination'. A total of 200 images were identified and collated. The images were reviewed for compliance with good practice standards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 12.75 per cent of the images were graded as having no breach of good practice standards.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Professional websites have a responsibility to show best practice. When choosing an image, the source of the image needs to be carefully considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology,Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,Cambridge,UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crundwell
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology,Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,Cambridge,UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Vision and Hearing Sciences,Anglia Ruskin University,Cambridge,UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maltby
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology,Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,Cambridge,UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT,Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,Cambridge,UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology,Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,Cambridge,UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology,Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,Cambridge,UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baguley
mesh_terms: D001298:Audiology / Q000592:standards; D001296:Audiovisual Aids / Q000592:standards*; D004739:England; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D038781:Otoscopy / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000592:standards
keywords: Otoscopes