OBJECTIVE: To compare different learning methods in otorhinolaryngology for family doctors. METHODS: Doctors were randomly distributed into 3 groups; 12 were instructed verbally through video lessons, 12 engaged in teleconsulting with an specialist, and 13 subjected to both methods. A questionnaire with tasks in otorhinolaryngology was applied before and after the interventions in the groups. The number of correct answers in the questionnaire was compared to the cases referred from primary to secondary health care and concordance between the primary and secondary level diagnoses. RESULTS: After the interventions, improved knowledge was observed in those taught through video lessons (p = 0.002) and teleconsulting/video lessons (p = 0.001), as well as a 16% reduction in the number of referrals from primary to secondary care. No diagnosis concordance between the primary and secondary care was found for any of the studied groups, with a Kappa value of under 0.75. CONCLUSIONS: The family doctors learned more otorhinolaryngology through verbal instructions given via video lessons than through the use of teleconsulting with a specialist. However, they were unable to use the knowledge gained in order to make consistent diagnoses with those of the specialist.
Telemedicine; Distance Learning; Otorhinolaryngology; Primary Health Care; Secondary Health Care; Medical Education
