Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-cphqk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-09T21:13:36.741Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Epistaxis management: current understanding amongst junior doctors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 January 2016

R Fox ,
R Nash ,
Z-W Liu  and
A Singh
R Fox*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, UK
R Nash
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, UK
Z-W Liu
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, UK
A Singh
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Richard Fox, ENT Department, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow HA1 3UJ, UK E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

Epistaxis is a common and potentially life-threatening emergency. This survey assesses understanding and confidence in epistaxis management amongst current junior doctors.

Method:

A cross-sectional study was conducted of foundation year one and two doctors based at three National Health Service trusts within a single region of the UK, assessing basic understanding and procedural confidence.

Results:

A total of 111 foundation doctors completed this survey. The average duration of undergraduate exposure to otolaryngology was 8.1 days. Forty-one per cent of respondents stated that they would apply pressure to the nasal bones to control epistaxis. Seventy-five per cent lacked confidence in their ability to manage epistaxis. Those with two weeks or more of undergraduate exposure to otolaryngology were more confident than those with one week or less of exposure (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

Junior doctors lack understanding and confidence in epistaxis management, with patient safety implications. Confidence is associated with the duration of undergraduate exposure to otolaryngology. A minimum emergency safe competency should be a priority during foundation training if not achieved in UK medical schools.

Keywords

EpistaxisEducationCurriculumEmergency Service, Hospital
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 130 , Issue 3 , March 2016 , pp. 252 - 255
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Health Education England. Broadening the Foundation Programme. Recommendations and implementation guidance, February 2014. In: http://hee.nhs.uk/wp-content/blogs.dir/321/files/2014/02/Broadening_the_Foundation_MAIN_REPORT_V17.pdf [26 November 2015]Google Scholar
2Khan, MM, Saeed, SR. Provision of undergraduate otorhinolaryngology teaching within General Medical Council approved UK medical schools: what is current practice? J Laryngol Otol 2012;126:340–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3McGarry, GW, Moulton, C. The first aid management of epistaxis by accident and emergency department staff. Arch Emerg Med 1993;10:298–300CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Lloyd, S, Tan, ZE, Taube, MA, Doshi, J. Development of an ENT undergraduate curriculum using a Delphi survey. Clin Otolaryngol 2014;39:281–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Health & Social Care Information Centre. Hospital Episode Statistics, Admitted Patient Care, England - 2013–14: Diagnosis. In: http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB16719 [15 April 2015]Google Scholar
6Ho, EC, Chan, JY. Front-line epistaxis management: let's not forget the basics. J Laryngol Otol 2008;122:696–9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7Sharma, A, Machen, K, Clarke, B, Howard, D. Is undergraduate otorhinolaryngology teaching relevant to junior doctors working in accident and emergency departments? J Laryngol Otol 2006;120:949–51CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8Davis, SJ, McDonald, S. Covering ENT out of hours: how confident are senior house officers? J Laryngol Otol 2006;120:587–90CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Neil, JF. Otolaryngology in the curriculum. J R Soc Med 1979;72:551–2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Department of Health. Delivering high quality, effective, compassionate care: Developing the right people with the right skills and the right values. A mandate from the Government to Health Education England: April 2013 to May 2013. In: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-education-england-mandate [15 March 2015]Google Scholar
11Griffiths, E. Incidence of ENT problems in general practice. J R Soc Med 1979;72:740–2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Donnelly, MJ, Quraishi, MS, McShane, DP. ENT and general practice: a study of paediatric ENT problems seen in general practice and recommendations for general practitioner training in ENT in Ireland. Ir J Med Sci 1995;164:209–11CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13e-lefENT. E-learning for Otolaryngology (ENT-UK). In: http://www.e-lefent.org.uk [26 November 2015]Google Scholar