Metcalfe, ChristopherGaskell, PeterMcLelland, ThomasPatel, SanjayMuzaffar, JameelDalton, LucyCoulson, Chris2023-07-132023-07-132022-09-15Metcalfe C, Gaskell P, McLelland T, Patel S, Muzaffar J, Dalton L, Coulson C. A retrospective cohort study of telephone versus face-to-face clinics for the management of new otology referrals. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2023 Apr;280(4):1677-1682. doi: 10.1007/s00405-022-07653-8. Epub 2022 Sep 151434-472610.1007/s00405-022-07653-836109380http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14200/1241Purpose: To compare outcomes of telephone and face-to-face consultations for new otology referrals and discuss the wider use of telemedicine in otology. Methods: Retrospective cohort study including new adult otology referrals to our unit, sampled consecutively between March 2021 and May 2021, seen in either a face-to-face or telephone clinic. Primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients with a definitive management outcome (discharged or added to waiting list for treatment) versus the proportion of patients requiring follow-up for further assessment or review. Results: 150 new patients referred for a routine otology consultation (75 telephone, 75 face-to-face) were included. 53/75 patients (71%) undergoing a face-to-face consultation received a definitive outcome following initial review, versus 22/75 (29%) telephone patients (χ2 < 0.001, OR 5.8). 52/75 (69%) telephone patients were followed up face-to-face for examination. The mean (SD) number of appointments required to reach a definitive outcome was 1.22 (0.58) and 1.75 (0.73) in the face-to-face and telephone cohorts, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Telephone clinics in otology have played an important role as part of the COVID19 response. However, they are currently limited by a lack of clinical examination and audiometry. Remote assessment pathways in otology that incorporate asynchronous review of recorded examinations alongside audiometry, either conventional or boothless, may mitigate this problem; however, further research is required.en© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.Ear, Nose & ThroatArticle