Promoting ENT-erest: Evaluating the Effect of Early, Focused Exposure to Otolaryngology

Exposure to otolaryngology throughout medical school is variable, with the majority of students receiving their first exposure in clerkships. This shortens the match timeline for students who pursue otolaryngology and decreases learning opportunities for all students. The aim of the current study is to assess the impact of an otolaryngology curriculum for preclinical medical students.

Pre-post.

This study was conducted among preclinical students at the UNC SOM in fall 2022 and fall 2024.

Students participated in an otolaryngology education curriculum including a surgical simulation session, anatomy demonstrations, and career exploration lectures. Surveys before and after the simulation were used to assess understanding of concepts, procedures, and interest in otolaryngology, consisting of multiple-choice and Likert scale questions. Pre-survey and post-survey results were compared.

A total of 39 students completed the pre-survey, and 37 completed the post-survey. Roughly half of these students (58%) had prior exposure to otolaryngology, most commonly research (34.6%) and shadowing (30.8%). Of those that completed both surveys, there was a statistically significant improvement in understanding of otolaryngology concepts and procedures (P < .05). Students reported that these sessions increased their interest in (4.25/5) and understanding of (4.38/5) otolaryngology, anatomy (3.88/5), and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) conditions (4.16/5).

Early, intentional exposure to otolaryngology not only fosters student interest in the specialty but also improves their understanding of otolaryngologic care. Medical educators should aim to provide focused, early exposure to medical students regardless of their specialty interest to enhance both specialty knowledge and general medical competence.

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