Evaluating a Questionnaire in Telephone Balance Consultations during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

During the coronavirus disease 2019, pandemic clinical practice had to change, and this study trialled a diagnostic questionnaire to assess patients with dizziness over the telephone.

All 115 patients awaiting otorhinolaryngological assessment for balance were randomised to receive a dizziness questionnaire in the post prior to their telephone consultation or not. Consultation outcomes were recorded by the clinicians conducting the consultation. Follow-up data were collected in June 2022 for final outcomes.

82/115 patients had consultations with complete data collection: 35 in the questionnaire group (QG) and 47 in the no questionnaire group (NQG), with a 70% response rate in the QG. Clinicians made a diagnosis in 27/35 QG consultations versus 27/47 NQG consultations. Nine out of 35 QG patients required additional investigations compared to 34/47 in the NQG (p < 0.05). Only 6/35 QG patients needed additional telephone follow-up, compared to 20/47 NQG patients (p < 0.05).

Using a diagnostic questionnaire increased clinicians' ability to come to a diagnosis in telephone consultations.