A preliminary report of the pattern of ear disease among students attending a school for people with disabilities in Samoa

Autor: Annette Kaspar, Sione Pifeleti, An Lifeng, Carlie Driscoll
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: SAGE Open Medicine, Vol 9 (2021)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2050-3121
20503121
DOI: 10.1177/20503121211060182
Popis: Objectives: The Ear, Nose, and Throat Department of Samoa is developing a school outreach service, and the aim of this study is to determine the pattern of ear disease among students attending a school for people with disabilities in Samoa. Methods: The study design is a prospective study of a 2-day outreach visit to a school for people with disabilities by the Samoan Ear, Nose, and Throat team who recorded their clinical findings (N = 28). Two Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists performed ear examinations for each student and recorded their diagnosis and recommendations as per routine Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic protocols on a purposefully designed form based on the World Health Organization Ear and Hearing Survey. This information was entered into an Excel spreadsheet for descriptive statistical analysis. Results: Results showed that 39% (n = 11) of students passed their initial ear examination, while 61% (n = 17) of students presented with at least one ear condition requiring Ear, Nose, and Throat intervention. The most common pathology was impacted wax (n = 15 ears). Following the Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic outreach visit, 21 students (75%) no longer required Ear, Nose, and Throat or medical services, five students (18%) required a medical prescription for the treatment of ear disease, and two students (7%) were referred to the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department for further review. Conclusion: Students attending schools for people with disabilities are a priority population for the Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinical service outreach programme.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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