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Differences between primary care physicians and specialised neurotologists in the diagnosis of dizziness and vertigo in Japan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 September 2020

T Ito ,
S Matsuyama ,
T Shiozaki ,
D Nishikawa ,
H Akioka ,
T Yamanaka  and
T Kitahara
T Ito*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Nara Medical University, Japan
S Matsuyama
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Nara Medical University, Japan
T Shiozaki
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Nara Medical University, Japan
D Nishikawa
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Nara Medical University, Japan
H Akioka
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Nara Medical University, Japan
T Yamanaka
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Nara Medical University, Japan
T Kitahara
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Nara Medical University, Japan
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Taeko Ito, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara634-8521, Japan E-mail: taeito@naramed-u.ac.jp Fax: +81 744 24 6844
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Abstract

Objective

Vertigo and dizziness are frequent symptoms in patients at out-patient services. An accurate diagnosis for vertigo or dizziness is essential for symptom relief; however, it is often challenging. This study aimed to identify differences in diagnoses between primary-care physicians and specialised neurotologists.

Method

In total, 217 patients were enrolled. To compare diagnoses, data was collected from the reference letters of primary-care physicians, medical questionnaires completed by patients and medical records.

Results

In total, 62.2 per cent and 29.5 per cent of the patients were referred by otorhinolaryngologists and internists, respectively. The cause of vertigo or dizziness and diagnosis was missing in 47.0 per cent of the reference letters. In addition, 67.3 per cent of the diagnoses by previous physicians differed from those reported by specialised neurotologists.

Conclusion

To ensure patient satisfaction and high quality of life, an accurate diagnosis for vertigo or dizziness is required; therefore, methods or materials to improve the diagnostic accuracy are needed.

Keywords

VertigoDizzinessNeurotologyPrimary Health CareData Collection
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 134 , Issue 9 , September 2020 , pp. 764 - 768
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2020

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Footnotes

Dr T Ito takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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