title: Qualitative synthesis and systematic review of otolaryngology in undergraduate medical education.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although 25% of primary care complaints are otolaryngology related, otolaryngology instruction is not required in most medical schools. Our aim was to systematically review existing literature on the inclusion of otolaryngology in undergraduate medical education.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Education Resources Information Center.
  Our search encompassed all indexed years through December 29, 2014. Inclusion criteria were English language, original human data, and a focus on medical student education. Data regarding study design, teacher, educational topic, educational methods, and setting were extracted from each article. Two investigators independently reviewed all articles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our initial search yielded 436 articles; 87 underwent full-text evaluation and 47 remained in the final review. The majority of studies were conducted in the United States (40%), United Kingdom (23%), and Canada (17%) and represented a single institutional experience. Studies were classified as needs assessments (36%), curriculum descriptions (15%), educational methods (36%), and skills assessments (32%); 81% were levels of evidence 3 or 4. Most reports indicated that otolaryngology rotations are not compulsory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Studies indicated the need for increased exposure to otolaryngology. Educational methods such as team-based learning, simulation, online learning, and clinical skills assessments may offer ways to increase exposure without overburdening clinical faculty and require further study. Data suggest that a universal otolaryngology medical student curriculum would be valuable and aid in resource sharing across institutions. We recommend that an assessment be performed to determine topics and skills that should comprise this curriculum.
  
  
  METHODS
  NA.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cincinnati, Ohio.|Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.|Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Stacey L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ishman
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
authors.forename: C Matthew
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Senser
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.|Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Rosalyn W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Stierer
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Benke
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Kern
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education*
keywords: Medical student; medical school education; otolaryngology; otorhinolaryngology; systematic review