Page 12 - Portuguese Journal - SPORL - Vol 61. Nº2

Table 2
Mean number of correct answers to the questions on the knowledge about tracheostomy

Correct answers
Participants n (%) Mean (Standard deviation) p-value
Total 132 (100) 4,60 (1,283)

With training during the medical course a 24 (18,2) 4,54 (1,341)
p=0,777
Without training during the medical course a 98 (74,2) 4,63 (1,135)
With contact during IFG b 65 (49,2) 4,46 (1,352)
p=0,218
Without contact during IFG b 67 (50,8) 4,74 (1,203)
a – Participants with or without training in tracheostomy during the medical course;
b – Participants with or without contact with patients with a tracheostomy during internship (IFG)
Discussion PT and caring for patients with a tracheostomy
In the present study, which included 132 now involves other specialties may have
residents, the training in tracheostomy contributed to the neglect of this topic in
received during the medical course and the the training programs of these departments.
recently qualified doctors’ knowledge of However, the historical role and accumulated
tracheostomy were assessed for the first time. experience of otorhinolaryngology mean that
Although answers were obtained from only this department has an extra responsibility in
5.5% of all residents in 2022, the participants the teaching of this topic to medical students.
were doing IFG in all medical schools in A significant percentage of the respondents
Portugal and from all ARSs across the country (49.2%) reported having had contact with
and even from some schools abroad. As was patients with a tracheostomy during their IFG,
expected, the vast majority of the respondents and the ward was the setting where care was
finished their medical course in 2021. given to these patients more frequently.
Most participating doctors (74.2%) stated that Our results confirm that contact with patients
they did not receive training in tracheostomy with a tracheostomy is a frequent reality across
during the medical course. Only 41.7% of a variety of specialities . In fact, over a period of
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those who received training in tracheostomy only 10 months, almost half of the participants
underwent it in the otorhinolaryngology had already provided care to these patients,
department. The imparted knowledge was although otorhinolaryngology was not a part
mainly theoretical (79.2%). of the IFG rotations.
In 2016, although reporting on a different The knowledge of tracheostomy was evaluated
training reality, Tokarz et al. obtained similar through eight multiple-choice questions
results in a study of interns in the US in especially developed for this purpose. The
which 86% of the participants stated not mean number of correct answers was only
having trained in tracheostomy during the 4.60, which corresponds to slightly more than
medical course . Several other studies by half of the total number of answers.
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authors in the US showed similar results, These results suggest that newly qualified
implicating limited exposure of medical doctors have difficulties and lack knowledge
students to otorhinolaryngology during their regarding this topic. Similarly, several
undergraduate studies as one of the causes of previously published studies have described
this phenomenon 10, 12. significant gaps in the medical residents’
Therefore, our results demonstrate a knowledge of tracheostomy in the US 5, 11, 13.
concerning reality and gap in the medical Contrary to what would be expected, there
training in Portugal. The fact that performing were no statistically significant differences

154 Portuguese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery