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The CellScope Oto® is a smartphone otoscope attachment allowing physicians to share diagnostic-quality images of the ears. Our primary objective was to evaluate the residents' accuracy in diagnosing acute otitis media in children using the CellScope Oto® attachment compared to traditional otoscope. A randomized crossover controlled trial was performed at a single, tertiary care, pediatric emergency department. Participants were a convenience sample of preschool children, consulting for fever and respiratory symptoms. All children were evaluated by two residents randomized to use the CellScope Oto® smartphone device or a traditional otoscope. The primary outcome was the diagnostic accuracy of residents in ear evaluation compared to pediatric otolaryngologist's using binocular microscopy. Secondary outcomes included the need for a second ear exam by the treating physician and parental preference. Between August 2015 and June 2016, 90 residents examined 100 patients. Six patients were excluded, leaving 94 children evaluated twice. Diagnostic accuracies were 0.69 (95% CI: 0.52 to 0.75) for the residents using a traditional otoscope and 0.74 (95% CI: 0.68 to 0.80) for those using the CellScope Oto® for an absolute difference of 0.06 (95% CI: −0.03 to 0.15). The emergency physicians reported no need for a control exam in 49/91 (54%) situations. Finally, 44 (47%) families preferred the CellScope Oto®, 26 (28%) the traditional otoscope and 23 (25%) had no preference. Residents using the CellScope Oto® had accuracies as good as those using the traditional otoscope to evaluate the ears of young children at risk of acute otitis media. www.clinicaltrials.gov: Identifier NCT02521597.

Questions on preventive maintenance and its recommendations are answered. Since the document asked is based on the proprietary nature of the information, the author assumes that the equipment is under a contract. If your intention is to reduce the contracts and bring it in-house, you will need to have access to the manufacturers' recommendations to evaluate how your activities will sync with those. A risk-based process that deviates from manufacturer recommendations can be continued to use based on a risk-based assessment by qualified personnel. However, you must maintain documentation supporting your Alternate Equipment Management (AEM) program, and you must adhere strictly to the AEM activities and/or frequencies that you establish.

Background Otoscope examinations are a fundamental skill in pediatric care, crucial for diagnosing and managing ear conditions such as otitis media. Traditional training methods for pediatric otoscopic examination often rely on adult standardized patients (SPs) or simulated models, which may not be adequate for pediatric examinations. Objectives This study evaluates the feasibility and effectiveness of use of children as SPs in Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) to assess medical students’ competency in pediatric otoscopy. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), Rwanda during the final exit examinations. This study included 30 final-year medical students, and six child SPs aged 5–8 years, along with their guardians. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires on students perceived self-efficacy and performance. Qualitative data were obtained through focus group discussions with guardians and child SPs. Results The mean (standard deviation) performance of students at the otoscope examination station was 81.67 (5.7) %, with a significant positive correlation between perceived self-efficacy and actual performance ( r  = 0.493, p  = 0.006). The mean performance at the OSCE station was slightly higher than perceived students’ self-efficacy, (72.5 (6.8) vs. 81.67%. p  < 0.001). Students reported high levels of satisfaction with the use of child SPs, with 83.3% recommending their use in pediatric OSCEs. Guardians and child SPs also expressed overall satisfaction, though concerns were noted regarding students’ levels of confidence. and communication skills. Conclusion Incorporating children as SPs in pediatric OSCEs enhances the realism and educational value of otoscope training with positive correlation between perceived self-efficacy and actual performance.

The British Society of Audiology has produced clear guidelines as to how otoscopy should be undertaken; however, no nationally recognised guidelines exist for the wider clinical community. Images of otoscopy appear in many books, journals, magazines and websites. This study aimed to determine the rate of non-compliance with good practice in images of otoscopy, the seriousness of the breach, and whether this is more common in sites for professionals or the general public. Google Images was searched using the terms 'otoscopy' and 'ear examination'. A total of 200 images were identified and collated. The images were reviewed for compliance with good practice standards. Only 12.75 per cent of the images were graded as having no breach of good practice standards. Professional websites have a responsibility to show best practice. When choosing an image, the source of the image needs to be carefully considered.