Needs Assessment of Undergraduate Education in Otolaryngology among Family Medicine Residents

Objectives: To investigate the adequacy of otolaryngology teaching in undergraduate medical education (UME) and to determine the general level of comfort of family medicine residents in managing and assessing diseases affecting the ears, nose, and throat. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: A sample of family medicine residents at the University of Western Ontario (N = 68) completed a questionnaire inquiring into their exposure to topics in otolaryngology during their UME. They were also asked to comment on their present comfort with knowledge and skills specific to otolaryngology. Results: Family medicine residents suggest that there is generally little otolaryngology training in UME; 66.7% of respondents who received UME in Canada suggested that they received very little classroom instruction and 75.6% received very little clinical otolaryngology instruction. Residents identified specific otolaryngologic conditions with which they felt particularly uncomfortable. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that students receive very little exposure to otolaryngology in UME and highlighted specific conditions and procedures that family medicine residents lack confidence in managing and performing.