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Table 3 Changes in diagnosis, oral antibiotic therapy and GP review plans between Step 1 (non-pneumatic otoscopy) and Step 2 by technique used

From: The effect and acceptability of tympanometry and pneumatic otoscopy in general practitioner diagnosis and management of childhood ear disease

Change between step 1 and 2

Tympanometry

Pneumatic otoscopy

 

Significance

χ 2and p value

Yes

No

Yes

No

Incomplete data

Any change in GP diagnosis

96

93

32

113

33

28.64, df 1, p < 0.01

  Change from diagnosis of NAD at Step 1 to OME at Step 2

10

44

0

67

 

p < 0.01

  Change from AOM at Step 1 to NAD at Step 2

5

26

1

24

 

p = 0.21

  Change from OME at Step 1 to NAD at Step 2

10

28

4

14

 

0.11, df 1, p = 1

  Change from Unsure at Step 1 to NAD, AOM or OME at Step 2

24

6

13

7

 

1.4, df = 1, p = 0.33

  Change from NAD, AOM or OME at Step 1 to Unsure at Step 2

15

139

9

110

 

0.40, df 1, p = 0.53

Change in decision to prescribe oral antibiotic

12

136

5

122

72

2.05, df 1, p = 0.15

Any change in planned GP review

33

122

10

114

87

9.24, df 1, p < 0.01

  Change from no plan for GP review at Step 1 to GP review plan at Step 2

21

63

5

72

 

10.16, df 1, p < 0.01

  Change from GP review plan at Step 1 to no plan for GP review at Step 2

13

57

7

39

 

0.22, df 1,p = 0.64

  1. †Fisher’s exact test.
  2. GP = General practitioner (primary healthcare practitioner).
  3. AOM = Acute otitis media, OME = Otitis media with effusion, NAD = No abnormality detected.