Comparative evaluation of a low-cost solar powered otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi

Katharine Balfour; Amy McCarthy; Shi Ying Hey; Obaid Kousha; Emmanuel Singano; Wakisa Mulwafu; David F. D. L. Walker; Andrew Blaikie

doi:10.1002/lio2.601

Comparative evaluation of a low-cost solar powered otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi

Katharine Balfour
, Amy McCarthy
, Shi Ying Hey
, Obaid Kousha
, Emmanuel Singano
, Wakisa Mulwafu
, David F. D. L. Walker
, Andrew Blaikie

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Objectives: To comparatively evaluate a low-cost otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi.
Methods: The study is a prospective, comparative, qualitative observational survey of health care worker's opinions using 5-point Likert rating scales and tick box categories in a 10-item survey questionnaire. Twenty-five mixed cadre health care workers from the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blantyre in Malawi were recruited. Outcomes measures used were ease of speculum attachment, handling, insertion, stability, the quality of view, color, build, brightness, overall ease of use, and their suitability for local work.
Results: The low-cost otoscope scored statistically higher in overall combined performance, as well as in the remaining four out of the nine attributes. Notably, 54.2% of users rated the low-cost device more suitable than the traditional device for use in low-middle income countries, 25% were equivocal, and 20.8% preferred the traditional device.
Conclusion: This study found the Arclight otoscope to be an appropriate and practical substitute for more expensive traditional otoscopes for the delivery of ENT services in low resource settings.
Level of Evidence: N/A

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	839-843
Number of pages	5
Journal	Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
Volume	6
Issue number	4
Early online date	10 Jun 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.601
Publication status	Published - Aug 2021

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Education
Health resources
Malawi
Otoscopes
Quality-adjusted life years

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10.1002/lio2.601Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Balfour-2021-Comparative-evaluation-of-LIO-2.601-CC
Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Triological Society. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Final published version, 835 KBLicence: CC BY

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@article{68e9a69249104394921c748ba3723fa0,

title = "Comparative evaluation of a low-cost solar powered otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi",

abstract = "Objectives: To comparatively evaluate a low-cost otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi. Methods: The study is a prospective, comparative, qualitative observational survey of health care worker's opinions using 5-point Likert rating scales and tick box categories in a 10-item survey questionnaire. Twenty-five mixed cadre health care workers from the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blantyre in Malawi were recruited. Outcomes measures used were ease of speculum attachment, handling, insertion, stability, the quality of view, color, build, brightness, overall ease of use, and their suitability for local work. Results: The low-cost otoscope scored statistically higher in overall combined performance, as well as in the remaining four out of the nine attributes. Notably, 54.2\% of users rated the low-cost device more suitable than the traditional device for use in low-middle income countries, 25\% were equivocal, and 20.8\% preferred the traditional device. Conclusion: This study found the Arclight otoscope to be an appropriate and practical substitute for more expensive traditional otoscopes for the delivery of ENT services in low resource settings. Level of Evidence: N/A",

keywords = "Education, Health resources, Malawi, Otoscopes, Quality-adjusted life years",

author = "Katharine Balfour and Amy McCarthy and Hey, \{Shi Ying\} and Obaid Kousha and Emmanuel Singano and Wakisa Mulwafu and Walker, \{David F. D. L.\} and Andrew Blaikie",

note = "Funding: Dorothy Miller Bursary Scheme - University of St Andrews Medical School.",

year = "2021",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1002/lio2.601",

language = "English",

volume = "6",

pages = "839--843",

journal = "Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology",

issn = "2378-8038",

publisher = "John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd",

number = "4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Comparative evaluation of a low-cost solar powered otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi

AU - Balfour, Katharine

AU - McCarthy, Amy

AU - Hey, Shi Ying

AU - Kousha, Obaid

AU - Singano, Emmanuel

AU - Mulwafu, Wakisa

AU - Walker, David F. D. L.

AU - Blaikie, Andrew

N1 - Funding: Dorothy Miller Bursary Scheme - University of St Andrews Medical School.

PY - 2021/8

Y1 - 2021/8

N2 - Objectives: To comparatively evaluate a low-cost otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi. Methods: The study is a prospective, comparative, qualitative observational survey of health care worker's opinions using 5-point Likert rating scales and tick box categories in a 10-item survey questionnaire. Twenty-five mixed cadre health care workers from the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blantyre in Malawi were recruited. Outcomes measures used were ease of speculum attachment, handling, insertion, stability, the quality of view, color, build, brightness, overall ease of use, and their suitability for local work. Results: The low-cost otoscope scored statistically higher in overall combined performance, as well as in the remaining four out of the nine attributes. Notably, 54.2% of users rated the low-cost device more suitable than the traditional device for use in low-middle income countries, 25% were equivocal, and 20.8% preferred the traditional device. Conclusion: This study found the Arclight otoscope to be an appropriate and practical substitute for more expensive traditional otoscopes for the delivery of ENT services in low resource settings. Level of Evidence: N/A

AB - Objectives: To comparatively evaluate a low-cost otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi. Methods: The study is a prospective, comparative, qualitative observational survey of health care worker's opinions using 5-point Likert rating scales and tick box categories in a 10-item survey questionnaire. Twenty-five mixed cadre health care workers from the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blantyre in Malawi were recruited. Outcomes measures used were ease of speculum attachment, handling, insertion, stability, the quality of view, color, build, brightness, overall ease of use, and their suitability for local work. Results: The low-cost otoscope scored statistically higher in overall combined performance, as well as in the remaining four out of the nine attributes. Notably, 54.2% of users rated the low-cost device more suitable than the traditional device for use in low-middle income countries, 25% were equivocal, and 20.8% preferred the traditional device. Conclusion: This study found the Arclight otoscope to be an appropriate and practical substitute for more expensive traditional otoscopes for the delivery of ENT services in low resource settings. Level of Evidence: N/A

KW - Education

KW - Health resources

KW - Malawi

KW - Otoscopes

KW - Quality-adjusted life years

U2 - 10.1002/lio2.601

DO - 10.1002/lio2.601

M3 - Article

SN - 2378-8038

VL - 6

SP - 839

EP - 843

JO - Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology

JF - Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology

IS - 4

ER -

Comparative evaluation of a low-cost solar powered otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi

Abstract

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