Is undergraduate otoscopy teaching adequate?--An audit of clinical teaching

Otoscopy is an important skill for the general practitioner, yet skill in the technique is rarely assessed formally at undergraduate level. This study aimed to assess the effect of teaching on the acquisition of otoscopic skill. Thirty-five medical students were assessed prospectively during their ENT attachments. Seventeen students were randomized to the standard course and 18 attended an additional seminar on otoscopy. Students' confidence was assessed for various aspects of otoscopy using a visual analogue scale, and clinical skill was assessed in examining four patients. Assessments took place at the beginning and end of the course. Students gained in their confidence and skill for all parameters, although the clinical ability to distinguish normal from abnormal tympanic membranes changed little from baseline levels. Extra teaching produced better gains in confidence (P less than 0.05) and skill (P less than 0.01) in identifying specific features of the tympanic membrane and eliminated errors of the 'false negative' variety. A minimal investment in teaching effort produces appreciable gains in students' otoscopic skills. This has implication for the planning of undergraduate ENT courses and vocational training for general practice.