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Table 2 Diagnosis and management plans including changes after tympanometry or pneumatic otoscopy

From: The effect and acceptability of tympanometry and pneumatic otoscopy in general practitioner diagnosis and management of childhood ear disease

 

Children examined n (%)

After non-pneumatic otoscopy –all examinations at step 1

Examinations grouped according to the diagnostic technique used at step 2

Tympanometry

Pneumatic otoscopy

n = 347 (100%)

n = 196 (56%)

n = 151 (44%)

  

Step 1

Step 2

Step 1

Step 2

(non-pneumatic otoscopy only)

 

(non-pneumatic otoscopy only)

Diagnosis

No abnormality

153 (44)

78 (40)

72 (37)

75 (50)

78 (52)

Unsure

50 (14)

30 (15)

18 (9)

20 (13)

15 (10)

Acute otitis media

56 (16)

31 (16)

17 (9)

25 (17))

25 (17)

Otitis media with effusion

63 (18)

44 (22)

60 (31)

19 (13)

20 (13)

Other

20 (6)

9 (5)

27 (14)

11 (7)

8 (5)

Missing data

5 (1)

4 (2)

2 (1)

1 (<1)

5 (3)

Therapy * more than one response possible

Not required

199 (57)

110 (56)

108 (55)

90 (60)

88 (58)

Oral antibiotic

66 (19)

35 (18)

34 (17)

31 (21)

26 (17)

Analgesic

36 (10)

18 (9)

16 (8)

18 (12)

17 (11)

Missing data

42 (12)

30 (15)

32 (16)

12 (8)

15 (10)

Planned follow up *more than one response possible

Not required

165 (48)

85 (43)

76 (39)

80 (53)

80 (53)

GP review needed

124 (36)

76 (39)

91 (46)

48 (32)

46 (31)

Referral audiologist

4 (1)

1 (<1)

2 (1)

2 (1)

5 (3)

Referral otolaryngologist

4 (1)

3 (2)

7 (4)

1 (<1)

2 (1)

Missing data

51 (14)

31 (16)

26 (13)

20 (13)

18 (12)