Social Media Use by Residents and Faculty in Otolaryngology Training Programs.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the growth of social media in healthcare, the appropriateness of online friendships between otolaryngological residents and attendings is poorly defined in the current literature. This issue is of growing importance, particularly as residency programs increasingly utilize social media as a means of connecting with and evaluating applicants due to limited in-person experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was to better understand the prevalence of and concerns surrounding social media use between residents and faculty. METHODS: This study sent out 2 surveys in 2017 to all United States Otolaryngology residency program directors to disperse to their residents and attendings, respectively. RESULTS: We received a response from 72 residents and 98 attendings. Our findings show that social media is commonly used by both residents and attendings, and most residents have at least 1 online friendship with an attending. Resident and attending opinions diverge on topics such as appropriateness of use, privacy settings, and professionalism. CONCLUSIONS: We call on residency programs to delineate a transparent social media policy so applicant expectations on social media are clear.

The cell phone vibration test: A telemedicine substitute for the tuning fork test.

OBJECTIVE: An at home-test for differentiating between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss remains elusive. Our goal was to validate the novel cell-phone vibration test (CPVT) against the Weber tuning fork test (WTFT) and to assess if the CPVT can be self-administered by patients reliably. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. METHODS: The CPVT involves placement of a vibrating cellphone on the center of the forehead to determine which ear perceives the sound louder. 40 consecutive adult patients with an audiogram within 6 months and no report of recent hearing changes were recruited. Group 1 consisted of 20 patients who were examined by the provider with the CPVT and WTFT using various tuning forks (256, 512, and 1024 Hz). Group 2 consisted of an additional 20 patients who received instructions on self-administering the CPVT. Kappa statistics were calculated to assess the strength of concordance between the CPVT, WTFT, and audiometric findings for group 1 and between patient self-administered and provider administered CPVT and WTFT for group 2. RESULTS: Concordance between CPVT and WTFT in the entire cohort was substantial (Kappa coefficient: 0.81 for 256 Hz, 0.73 for 512 Hz, and 0.62 for 1024 Hz) with similar concordances between actual and expected results based on audiogram (Kappa coefficient: 0.52 for CPVT and 0.52 for WTFT). Concordance between patient-administered and provider-administered CPVT showed almost perfect agreement (Kappa coefficient: 0.92). CONCLUSIONS: The CPVT provides consistent results when compared to a formal WTFT and can be reliably self-administered by patients with appropriate instructions.Level of evidence: 4.

Patient and Provider Satisfaction With Telemedicine in Otolaryngology.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate patient and provider satisfaction with telemedicine encounters across 3 otolaryngology practices. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: A military community hospital, an academic military hospital, and a nonmilitary academic center. METHODS: A telephone-based survey of patients undergoing telemedicine encounters for routine otolaryngology appointments was performed between April and July 2020. Patients were asked about their satisfaction, the factors affecting care, and demographic information. A provider survey was emailed to staff otolaryngologists. The survey asked about satisfaction, concerns for reimbursement or liability, encounters best suited for telemedicine, and demographic information. The results were analyzed with descriptive statistics and a multivariable logistic linear regression model to determine odds ratios. RESULTS: A total of 325 patients were surveyed, demonstrating high satisfaction with telemedicine (average score, 4.49 of 5 [best possible answer]). Patients perceived "no negative impact" or "minor negative impact" on the encounter due to the lack of a physical examination or face-to-face interaction (1.86 and 1.95 of 5, respectively). High satisfaction was consistent across groups for distance to travel, age, and reason for referral. A total of 25 providers were surveyed, with an average satisfaction score of 3.44 of 5. Providers reported "slight" to "somewhat" concern about reimbursement (40%) and liability (32%). CONCLUSION: Given patients' and providers' levels of satisfaction, there is likely a role for telemedicine in otolaryngology practice that may benefit patient care independent of the COVID-19 pandemic.