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Prospective, blinded study of nasal injuries: comparison of doctor and nurse assessment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2009

D Baring
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust, Paisley, Scotland, UK
C Murray
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust, Paisley, Scotland, UK
J Singh
Affiliation:
Primary Biostatistical Solutions, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
A Davidson
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust, Paisley, Scotland, UK
M I Syed*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust, Paisley, Scotland, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Mohammed Iqbal Syed, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust, Paisley PA2 9PN, Scotland, UK. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Objectives:

This study aimed to compare an experienced ENT treatment room nurse's ability to assess nasal injuries with that of junior doctors.

Design:

One hundred consecutive patients with nasal injuries were assessed prospectively in two phases, followed by a telephone survey.

Main outcome measures:

Comparison of nasal injury assessment, advice, and outcomes regarding cosmesis, airway obstruction and patient satisfaction.

Results:

In the first phase, there was almost perfect agreement between doctor and nurse assessments regarding the management of nasal fractures (p < 0.0001). There was no deterioration in outcomes in the nurse assessment only patient group with regards to cosmesis and airway obstruction. Ninety-four per cent of patients were satisfied with nurse-only assessment.

Conclusions:

Our study showed that an experienced treatment room nurse was as effective as experienced junior doctors in assessing and advising patients with nasal injuries. Following this study, the nurse involved began to independently assess patients with nasal injuries attending the unit.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009

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Footnotes

Presented in an abridged version at the Winter 2007 Scottish Otolaryngology Society Meeting, 23rd November 2007, at the Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, Scotland, UK.

References

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