Habib, Al-Rahim

Crossland, Graeme

Sacks, Raymond

Singh, Narinder

Patel, Hemi

2024-07-10

To evaluate a referral-based, tele-otology service in rural and remote areas of the Northern Territory, Australia.A retrospective observational cohort study was performed of a tele-otology service in 93 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (2011 to 2019). Assessments included face-to-face examinations performed by Clinical Nurse Consultants and audiologists, and asynchronous reviews performed by otolaryngologists. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the likelihood of ear disease, adjusted for age and gender. Intra- and inter-rater agreement was assessed between otolaryngologists.A total of 3,950 patients were reviewed (6,838 encounters, 13,726 ear assessments). The median age of patients was 9.8 years (interquartile range: 7.2 years). Overall, 62.2% of patients were identified with ear disease and 62.5% identified with hearing loss. Substantial intra- and inter-rater agreement in diagnosis was found between otolaryngologists (κ = 0.71 and κ = 0.78, respectively). The most common ear conditions identified were chronic otitis media (COM, 28.1%) and otitis media with effusion (OME, 16.5%). Topical or oral antibiotics were initiated in 14.1% of all encounters, most often for acute otitis media or COM. Surgery was recommended in 27.7% of all encounters, most often myringoplasty, adenoidectomy, and myringotomy with insertion of tympanostomy tubes.Tele-otology is a critical component of an integrated approach to evaluating ear disease in Indigenous people living in rural and remote areas. The high prevalence of OME, COM, and surgical recommendations highlights the need for community engagement, regular follow-up, and early interventions to prevent long-term hearing loss.N/A Laryngoscope, 2024.

Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Darwin Hospital, Top End Health Service, Department of Health, Tiwi, Northern Territory, Australia.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Darwin Hospital, Top End Health Service, Department of Health, Tiwi, Northern Territory, Australia.

Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Darwin Hospital, Top End Health Service, Department of Health, Tiwi, Northern Territory, Australia.

Laryngoscope . 2024 Jul 10. doi: 10.1002/lary.31624. Online ahead of print.

1531-4995

0000-0001-6327-4648

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38982868/?otool=iaurydwlib

https://hdl.handle.net/10137/13460

epidemiology

otitis media

otology

telehealth

Tele-otology for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Living in Rural and Remote Areas.

Journal Article

Publication