title: Clinical Practice Guidelines: Whose Practice Are We Guiding?
abstract: The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) has just released an update to the clinical practice guideline (CPG) on otitis media with effusion. This common condition is frequently managed by primary care providers; however, their awareness and utilization of the AAO-HNSF CPGs are unknown. We performed a cross-sectional survey to assess familiarity with otologic diagnoses, evaluation skills, and guidelines. Only 38.5% of respondents use pneumatic otoscopy, and roughly 50% utilize a CPG for management of otitis media or for referral for tympanostomy tube insertion. Providers predominantly use the acute otitis media guideline from the American Academy of Pediatrics. In this single-institution study, providers are largely unaware of the AAO-HNSF CPGs and could benefit from additional training, including workshops taught by otolaryngologists within individual health care systems or development of a national otolaryngology medical student curriculum. A more immediate option includes referencing our CPGs on specialty societies' websites or newsletters.
authors.affiliation: Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Morgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, Ft Sam Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Bowe
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, Ft Sam Houston, Texas, USA Adrienne.laury@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Adrienne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Laury
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D038781:Otoscopy; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States
keywords: clinical practice guidelines; otitis media with effusion; otoscopy