Ototoxicity management: An investigation into doctors' knowledge and practices, and the roles of audiologists in a tertiary hospital.
Anna Wium, Berna Gerber
PMID 28155308WHAT IT FOUND
Most doctors in one South African tertiary hospital did not routinely disclose ototoxicity risks or refer patients to audiologists, while strongly agreeing audiologists should monitor hearing and support patients.
Key findings
0153% of doctors scored at least 80% on ototoxicity knowledge questions, but 89% said they needed more information on otoprotective strategies.
02Only 16% routinely disclosed ototoxic risks to patients, 28% never did, and 54% sometimes disclosed selectively.
03Only 18% routinely referred patients to audiology, despite 93% agreeing audiologists should be part of ototoxicity management teams.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The doctors were selected because they were present at department meetings, so the results may not represent all doctors in the hospital. The study was done in one tertiary hospital in South Africa, so the findings may not apply elsewhere. The sample was too small to make reliable comparisons between departments. The paper reports questionnaire responses, not direct observation of care. The study did not measure patient hearing outcomes. Open-ended responses were not checked by an independent rater.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read doctors' agreement that audiologists should inform patients as proof that involving audiologists improves hearing outcomes. The study measured doctors' self-reported views and practices, not patient hearing results.