Low-cost otolaryngology simulation models for early-stage trainees: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Medical simulation is essential for surgical training yet is often too expensive and inaccessible in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Furthermore, in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS), while simulation training is often focused on senior residents and specialists, there is a critical need to target general practitioners who carry a significant load of OHNS care in countries with limited OHNS providers. This scoping review aims to describe affordable, effective OHNS simulation models for early-stage trainees and non-OHNS specialists in resource-limited settings and discuss gaps in the literature. METHODS: This scoping review followed the five stages of Arksey and O'Malley's Scoping Review Methodology. Seven databases were used to search for articles. Included articles discussed physical models of the ear, nose, or throat described as "low-cost," "cost-effective," or defined as <$150 if explicitly stated; related to the management of common and emergent OHNS conditions; and geared towards undergraduate students, medical, dental, or nursing students, and/or early-level residents. RESULTS: Of the 1706 studies screened, 17 met inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in HICs. Most models were low-fidelity (less anatomically realistic) models. The most common simulated skills were peritonsillar abscess aspiration and cricothyrotomy. Information on cost was limited, and locally sourced materials were infrequently mentioned. Simulations were evaluated using questionnaires and direct observation. CONCLUSION: Low-cost simulation models can be beneficial for early medical trainees and students in LMICs, addressing resource constraints and improving skill acquisition. However, there is a notable lack of contextually relevant, locally developed, and cost-effective models. This study summarizes existing low-cost OHNS simulation models for early-stage trainees and highlights the need for additional locally sourced models. Further research is needed to assess the effectiveness and sustainability of these models.

Cost of open access publishing in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.

Objective: Open access (OA) publishing makes research more accessible but is associated with steep article processing charges (APCs). The study objective was to characterize the APCs of OA publishing in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) journals. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of published policies of 110 OHNS journals collated from three databases. The primary outcomes were the publishing model, APC for original research, and APC waiver policy. Results: We identified 110 OHNS journals (57 fully OA, 47 hybrid, 2 subscription-only, 4 unknown model). After excluding 12 journals (2 subscription-only, 4 unknown model, 5 OA with unspecified APCs, and 1 OA that accepts publications only from society members), we analyzed 98 journals, 23 of which did not charge APCs. Among 75 journals with nonzero APCs, the mean and median APCs were $2452 and $2900 (interquartile range: $1082-3520). Twenty-five journals (33.3%) offered APC subsidies for authors in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and/or on a case-by-case basis. Eighty-five and 25 journals were based in high-income countries (HICs) and LMICs, respectively. The mean APC was higher among HIC journals than LMIC journals ($2606 vs. $958, p < 0.001). Conclusion: APCs range from tens to thousands of dollars with limited waivers for authors in LMICs.

Low-Cost Otolaryngology Simulation Models for Early-Stage Trainees: A Scoping Review.

Importance: There is a notable lack of low-cost OHNS simulation models that are relevant for early medical trainees and students. By conducting this study, we will understand the current landscape of low-cost otolaryngology-head and neck surgery simulation for early medical trainees and students. Objectives: Medical simulation is essential for surgical training yet is often too expensive and inaccessible in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Furthermore, in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS), while simulation training is often focused on senior residents and specialists, there is a critical need to target general practitioners who carry a significant load of OHNS care in countries with limited OHNS providers. This scoping review aims to describe affordable, effective OHNS simulation models for early-stage trainees and non-OHNS specialists in resource-limited settings and discuss gaps in the literature. Evidence Review: This scoping review followed the five stages of Arksey and O'Malley's Scoping Review Methodology. Seven databases were used to search for articles. Included articles discussed physical models of the ear, nose, or throat described as "low-cost," "cost-effective," or defined as <$150 if explicitly stated; related to the management of common and emergent OHNS conditions; and geared towards undergraduate students, medical, dental, or nursing students, and/or early-level residents. Findings: Of the 1706 studies screened, 17 met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in HICs. Most models were low fidelity (less anatomically realistic) models. The most common simulated skills were peritonsillar abscess aspiration and cricothyrotomy. Information on cost was limited, and locally sourced materials were infrequently mentioned. Simulations were evaluated using questionnaires and direct observation. Conclusion and Relevance: Low-cost simulation models can be beneficial for early medical trainees and students in LMICs, addressing resource constraints and improving skill acquisition. However, there is a notable lack of contextually relevant, locally developed, and cost-effective models. This study summarizes existing low-cost OHNS simulation models for early-stage trainees and highlights the need for additional locally sourced models. Further research is needed to assess the effectiveness and sustainability of these models.

Effects of Pharmacotherapy for the Treatment of Obesity in an Urban, Safety-Net Population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of common weight loss pharmacotherapies among low-income, racially diverse adult patients at an urban safety-net weight management clinic. METHODS: Our retrospective review from 2015 to 2019 examined patients who took either GLP-1 analog (GL) or phentermine/topiramate (PT) for ≥90 days and patients who exclusively pursued non-pharmacologic treatment for comparison. Changes in weight, blood pressure, and hemoglobin A1c at 1-year follow-up were reported. RESULTS: We analyzed 22 GL and 26 PT patients and included 40 patients who pursued only lifestyle modifications (LM). All three groups achieved significant weight loss at one year: GL -3.69 (interquartile range (IQR): -11.0, -1.77) kg (p=0.0004), PT -7.01 (IQR: -13.4, -1.45) kg (p<0.001), and LM -3.01 (IQR: -6.81, 1.13) kg (p=0.005). There was no significant difference in the median weight loss (p=0.11) between the three groups. We observed no significant changes in systolic blood pressure but saw a significant change of -0.75 in hemoglobin A1c (IQR: -1.35, -0.25) (p=0.01) among patients with diabetes in the GL group. CONCLUSIONS: Our real-world applications of GLP-1 and phentermine/topiramate suggest that both are effective weight loss medication regimens in low-socioeconomic status patients.

Correlating Vestibular Migraine Patient Assessment Tool and Handicap Inventory to Daily Dizziness Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the relationship between Vestibular Migraine Patient Assessment Tool and Handicap Inventory (VM-PATHI) scores and daily dizziness symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort analysis of 52 patients with vestibular migraine (VM). SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Fifty-two patients diagnosed with VM or probable VM according to Barany Society criteria. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects reported their dizzy symptoms (on a scale of 0 [no symptoms], 1 [mild], 2 [moderate], and 3 [severe]) every day for 1 month via automated text messaging linked to a cloud-based research database. Subjects completed VM-PATHI and Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) scores at the end of the month. We examined the correlation between a composite of daily dizziness scores with VM-PATHI and DHI scores through linear regression and correlation analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pearson correlation coefficient, R2 value. RESULTS: VM-PATHI showed a moderate correlation with daily dizziness symptoms (correlation coefficient, 0.51). DHI showed a lower correlation with daily dizziness (correlation coefficient, 0.38). VM-PATHI score was a strong predictor of daily dizziness with univariate linear regression ( R2 = 0.26, p = 0.001). In a multiple linear regression model with age, history of anxiety and/or depression, and VM-PATHI, the VM-PATHI score was the only statistically significant predictor of daily dizziness ( p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Daily dizziness symptoms are better correlated with VM-PATHI score than the DHI, providing further validation of VM-PATHI as a disease-specific outcome measure for patients with VM.

Visually enhanced vestibulo-ocular reflex gain in patients with vestibular disease.

Objective: Vestibular migraine (VM) is a diagnostic challenge. Visually enhanced vestibulo-ocular reflex (VVOR) gain, a measure of the visual-vestibular interaction, has been proposed as a tool for diagnosing VM. This study seeks to evaluate VVOR gain's diagnostic capability to predict VM and to compare the phenotypes of vestibular patients with elevated versus normal/low VVOR gain. Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive adult patients at a dizziness clinic from October 2016 and December 2020 was conducted. VVOR gain's diagnostic performance was assessed with the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) analysis. Demographic factors and clinical presentations were compared between vestibular patients with elevated versus normal/low VVOR gain. Results: One hundred forty patients (70 with VM) were analyzed. VVOR gain was elevated in 68.6% of patients with VM, compared to 52.9% of patients without VM (p = .057). The AUROC of VVOR gain was 0.5902 (95% confidence interval: 0.4958-0.6846). Vestibular patients with elevated VVOR gain were younger than those with normal/low VVOR gain (mean age 50 vs. 62, p < .0001). A higher proportion of subjects with elevated VVOR gain had symptoms triggered by certain foods (17.6% vs. 5.5%, p = .040) and experienced sound sensitivity (34.1% vs. 18.2%, p = .040) and motion sensitivity (23.5% vs. 9.1%, p = .041). A greater proportion of VM patients with elevated VVOR gain were triggered by certain foods (27.1% vs. 0%, p = .006). Conclusion: VVOR gain alone has limited ability to discriminate VM from other vestibular conditions and must be interpreted carefully. VVOR gain elevation may be associated with food triggers and motion and sound sensitivity. Level of Evidence: IV.

Vestibular migraine in low- and lower-middle-income countries: A scoping review.

Background: Vestibular migraine (VM) is a common cause of dizziness that is underrecognized, underdiagnosed, and challenging to effectively treat. The prevalence, appropriate diagnostic workup, and therapies for VM in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs) remain understudied. The objective of this scoping review is to evaluate the current state of VM research in LLMICs. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched to execute a scoping review of VM. Keywords "vestibular diseases" and "vertigo" were used in combination with terms referring to LLMICs as defined by the World Bank. Title and abstract screening, full-text review, and data collection were conducted by two authors independently. Results: Twenty-six studies were included in the scoping review. Most studies were cross-sectional (57.7%) or case studies/series (23.1%) and were conducted in urban settings only (92.3%). Geographic distribution of studies was skewed, with 65.4% of articles originating from India. The prevalence of VM among clinic patients ranged from 0.3% to 33.3%. VM most frequently presented as headache, nausea and vomiting, and photophobia. Radiographic imaging, audiometry, and electronystagmography/videonystagmography were the three most commonly utilized diagnostic modalities in the dizziness workup. The most studied pharmacotherapies included calcium channel blockers, followed by beta-blockers and antiepileptics. Case studies and series discussed less common VM pharmacotherapies, such as ayurvedic medicine. Conclusions: There is a need for more VM research in LLMICs, including innovative diagnostic approaches and therapies that can improve VM care globally. Equitable partnerships between LLMIC and high-income country researchers must expand vestibular research capacity and productivity in LLMICs.

Are open access article processing charges affordable for otolaryngologists in low-income and middle-income countries?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Open access articles are more frequently read and cited, and hence promote access to knowledge and new advances in healthcare. Unaffordability of open access article processing charges (APCs) may create a barrier to sharing research. We set out to assess the affordability of APCs and impact on publishing for otolaryngology trainees and otolaryngologists in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). RECENT FINDINGS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among otolaryngology trainees and otolaryngologists in LMICs globally. Seventy-nine participants from 21 LMICs participated in the study, with the majority from lower middle-income status (66%). Fifty-four percent were otolaryngology lecturers while 30% were trainees. Eighty-seven percent of participants received a gross monthly salary of less than USD 1500. Fifty-two percent of trainees did not receive a salary. Ninety-one percent and 96% of all study participants believed APCs limit publication in open access journals and influence choice of journal for publication, respectively. Eighty percent and 95% believed APCs hinder career progression and impede sharing of research that influences patient care, respectively. SUMMARY: APCs are unaffordable for LMIC otolaryngology researchers, hinder career progression and inhibit the dissemination of LMIC-specific research that can improve patient care. Novel models should be developed to support open access publishing in LMICs.

Students' Perspectives on Basic and Clinical Science Integration When Step 1 is Administered After the Core Clerkships.

Phenomenon: According to adult learning theories, effective cognitive integration of basic and clinical science may promote the transfer of knowledge to patient care. The placement of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 after the core clerkships is one strategy intended to facilitate cognitive integration, though learner experiences with this model are unexplored. The purpose of this study is to understand students' perspectives on basic and clinical science integration in a post-clerkship Step 1 curriculum. Approach: Focus groups were conducted between August and September 2020 with senior medical students from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and University of Michigan Medical School. Data were analyzed using a constructivist approach to thematic analysis. Findings: Thirty-three students participated in six focus groups. Participants described multiple barriers to cognitive integration in the clerkship learning environment, though they also identified examples of teaching and learning that facilitated integration. Early in their clerkships, students struggled to integrate because of their tenuous basic science foundation, cognitive overload, and difficulty perceiving the relevance of basic science to patient care. They felt that educators primarily focused on clinical science, and many basic science teaching sessions during clerkships felt irrelevant to patient care. However, students also described experiences that made the connection between basic and clinical science more explicit, including modeling by educators and clerkship learning activities that more overtly encouraged the application of basic science to clinical care. In addition, the return to basic science studying during the post-clerkship dedicated Step 1 study period offered powerful integration opportunities. These facilitators of cognitive integration helped students recognize the value of integration for enduring learning. Insights: There are myriad barriers to cognitive integration of basic and clinical science during clerkships in a post-clerkship Step 1 curriculum. The relevance of basic science to patient care needs to be made more explicit to students through modeling by clinician educators to augment the potential benefits of curricular change. The post-clerkship Step 1 study period appears to offer a unique opportunity for cognitive integration later in a learner's trajectory that may be related to curricular design. When learners recognize the applicability of basic science to patient care, they may more intentionally transfer basic science knowledge to clinical practice.

Using Item-Response Theory to Improve Interpretation of the Trans Woman Voice Questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: The Trans Woman Voice Questionnaire (TWVQ) is commonly used to quantify self-perceptions of voice for trans women seeking gender-affirming voice care, but the interpretation of TWVQ scores remains challenging. The objective of this study was to use item-response theory (IRT) to evaluate the relationship between TWVQ items and persons on a common scale and identify improvements to increase the meaningfulness of TWVQ scores. METHODS: A retrospective review of TWVQ scores from trans women patients between 2018-2020 was performed. Rasch-family models were used to generate item-person maps positioning respondent location and item difficulty estimates on a logit scale, which was then converted into a scaled score using linear transformations. RESULTS: TWVQ responses from 86 patients were analyzed. Initial item-person maps demonstrated that the middle response categories ("sometimes" and "often") performed inconsistently across items (poor threshold banding); interpretability improved when these ratings were scored as one category. The models were rerun using revised scoring, which retained high reliability (0.93) and supported a unidimensional construct. Updated item-person maps revealed four scaled score zones (≤54, >54 to ≤101, >101 to ≤140, and >140) that each corresponded to an increasing pattern of item thresholds (probability of selecting one response category vs. others). These ranges can be interpreted as minimal, low, moderate, and high, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Empiric data from Rasch analysis supports new interval scoring for the TWVQ that advances the clinical and research utility of the instrument and lays the foundation for future improvements in clinical care and outcomes assessment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 133:1197-1204, 2023.

Patterns of Head and Neck Injuries in Urban India: A Multicenter Study.

Objective: The pattern of head and neck injuries has been well studied in high-income countries, but the data are limited in low- and middle-income countries, which are disproportionately affected by trauma. We examined a prospective multicenter database to describe patterns and outcomes of head and neck injuries in urban India. Study Design: Retrospective review of trauma registry. Setting: Four tertiary public hospitals in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata. Methods: We identified patients with isolated head and neck injuries using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes and excluded those with traumatic brain and/or ophthalmic injuries and injuries in other body regions. Results: Our cohort included 171 patients. Most were males (80.7%) and adults aged 18 to 55 years (60.2%). Falls (36.8%) and road traffic accidents (36.3%) were the 2 predominant mechanisms of injury. Overall, 35.7% required intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and 11.7% died. More than 20% of patients were diagnosed with "unspecified injury of neck." Those with the diagnosis had a higher ICU admission rate (51.4% vs 31.3%, P = .025) and mortality rate (27.0% vs 7.5%, P = .001) than those without the diagnosis. Conclusion: Isolated head and neck injuries are not highly prevalent among Indian trauma patients admitted to urban tertiary hospitals but are associated with high mortality. Over a fifth of patients were diagnosed with "unspecified injury of neck," which is associated with more severe clinical outcomes. Exactly what this diagnosis entails and encompasses remains unclear.

Utility of telephone visits at an urban safety-net hospital during 2020: A retrospective review.

Objective: During COVID-19, otolaryngology clinics rapidly implemented telehealth programs in accordance with social distancing guidelines and institutional policies. Our objectives are to evaluate the usefulness of telephone audio visits for underserved patients seeking otolaryngological care at an urban safety-net hospital and identify patient factors associated with telephone visit attendance. Methods: In a retrospective review of all adult telephone visits in 2020, we compared the demographics and visit characteristics of patients who attended telehealth versus in-person visits and patients who attended versus missed telehealth visits. Univariable and multivariable regressions were utilized to identify predictors of missing telehealth visits. Results: We identified 318 telehealth encounters completed by 254 patients (72.8% were of racial/ethnic minority; 76.3% had low-income, need-based insurances; 43.7% had limited English proficiency). The most common chief complaints were related to head and neck oncology (n = 85, 26.7%), otology/neurotology (n = 74, 23.3%), and general otolaryngology (n = 69, 21.7%). The following actions were executed during telephone visits: behavioral and/or medication patient education (n = 152, 47.8%); sharing testing/imaging/tumor board results (n = 125, 39.3%); referrals to another department (n = 103, 32.4%); rendering a new diagnosis (n = 98, 30.8%); changing medications (n = 60, 18.9%). Less than half of telephone visits (46.2%) resulted in in-person follow-up, most commonly for in-person exams. The distribution of race/ethnicity differed between attended in-person appointments versus telephone visits (p = .01), but race and ethnicity were not significant predictors of telephone visit attendance. Conclusion: Despite limited diagnostic capabilities, telephone audio visits can be an effective and accessible tool for providing continuity and advancing care in socially disadvantaged patients. Level of evidence: IV.

Examining Migraine as a Predictor of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo Onset, Severity, Recurrence, and Associated Falls.

INTRODUCTION: The comorbidity of migraine and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is well-established, yet the impact of migraine on the BPPV phenotype remains understudied. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients at a tertiary dizziness/vertigo clinic diagnosed with BPPV from 2015 and 2020 was conducted. The study's primary outcomes were the age of BPPV onset, Dizziness Handicap Index (DHI), BPPV recurrence, and dizziness-related falls. RESULTS: In our cohort of 255 BPPV patients, 44.7% had a history of migraine. Those with migraine had an earlier age of BPPV onset than individuals without migraine (60.2 vs. 65.4, p = 0.0018). Migraineurs and non-migraineurs did not differ in their DHI (44.7 vs. 41.6, p= 0.44), recurrence rates (48.3% vs. 40.4%, p= 0.21), and falls (32.5% vs. 37.6%, p = 0.39). Among individuals with horizontal canal BPPV, a higher proportion of migraineurs experienced falls than non-migraineurs (50.0% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Migraineurs experience BPPV at a younger age than those without migraine. This finding suggests that migraine, which has been shown to cause inner ear damage, predisposes individuals to developing BPPV earlier. Migraine was also associated with a higher rate of falls among patients with horizontal canal BPPV, indicating that a migraine history may impact the phenotype of BPPV.

Vestibular Test Results in Patients With Horizontal Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

Introduction While the mechanism of posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is widely accepted as canalolithiasis, the pathophysiology of horizontal canal BPPV remains controversial. We seek to analyze vestibular test results of patients with horizontal canal BPPV with ageotropic nystagmus (AHC) and geotropic nystagmus (GHC) in comparison to patients with posterior canal BPPV (PC) to better understand its pathophysiology. Methods In a retrospective chart review of adults with BPPV at a tertiary referral balance center, we reviewed the clinical characteristics and compared videonystagmography, caloric, rotary chair, subjective visual vertical (SVV)/ subjective visual horizontal (SVH), and vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) results between groups. Results We included 11 AHC and seven GHC patients and randomly selected 20 PC patients as the comparison group. All groups had a high rate of migraine and low rates of diabetes and head trauma, but no difference between groups. Ipsilateral caloric weakness was more prevalent in the GHC group compared to the PC group (p=0.02). One of two AHC patients and both GHC patients who had SVV/SVH testing had abnormal findings. The only AHC patient who had ocular VEMP testing had abnormal results. Additionally, we observed a significant downbeating component to nystagmus (4 deg/sec or greater) exclusively in the AHC group (5/10 patients, p=0.001). Conclusions Patients with AHC and GHC have unique vestibular testing results. In particular, only AHC patients showed a downbeating component to their nystagmus, which may suggest utricular dysfunction in the pathophysiology of AHC.

Prophylactic Topical Antibiotics in Fracture Repair and Spinal Fusion.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this systematic review with meta-analysis is to determine whether prophylactic local antibiotics prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) in instrumented spinal fusions and traumatic fracture repair. A secondary objective is to investigate the effect of vancomycin, a common local antibiotic of choice, on the microbiology of SSIs. METHODS: An electronic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases and major orthopedic surgery conferences was conducted to identify studies that (1) were instrumented spinal fusions or fracture repair and (2) had a treatment group that received prophylactic local antibiotics. Both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and comparative observational studies were included. Meta-analysis was performed separately for randomized and nonrandomized studies with subgroup analysis by study design and antibiotic. RESULTS: Our review includes 44 articles (30 instrumented spinal fusions and 14 fracture repairs). Intrawound antibiotics significantly decreased the risk of developing SSIs in RCTs of fracture repair (RR 0.61, 95% CI: 0.40-0.93, I 2 = 32.5%) but not RCTs of instrumented spinal fusion. Among observational studies, topical antibiotics significantly reduced the risk of SSIs in instrumented spinal fusions (OR 0.34, 95% CI: 0.27-0.43, I 2 = 52.4%) and in fracture repair (OR 0.49, 95% CI: 0.37-0.65, I 2 = 43.8%). Vancomycin powder decreased the risk of Gram-positive SSIs (OR 0.37, 95% CI: 0.27-0.51, I 2 = 0.0%) and had no effect on Gram-negative SSIs (OR 0.95, 95% CI: 0.62-1.44, I 2 = 0.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic intrawound antibiotic administration decreases the risk of SSIs in fracture surgical fixation in randomized studies. Therapeutic efficacy in instrumented spinal fusion was seen in only nonrandomized studies. Vancomycin appears to be an effective agent against Gram-positive pathogens. There is no evidence that local vancomycin powder is associated with an increased risk for Gram-negative infection.