Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Management of patients with epistaxis by general practitioners: impact of otolaryngology experience on their practice

  • Rhinology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head & Neck Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aims to assess the management of patients with epistaxis by general practitioners (GPs) and to show whether previous experience as a junior doctor in ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery influences their practice. A questionnaire was sent together with self-addressed reply envelopes to a random sample of 1,000 GPs. Four hundred and twenty eight GPs replied (43% response rate). Ninety-eight percent GPs see less than five epistaxis per week. Eighty-six percent GPs seek a specialist opinion for approximately one in four patients seen. Fifty percent GPs would arrange investigations. There was a wide variation in these and the first aid advice given. Fifteen percent GPs had previous experience in ENT. The only significant difference in the management of epistaxis with these GPs is that they were 2× more likely to cauterise a nose with silver nitrate (P=0.002). There is no general consensus on the management of epistaxis by GPs and despite previous experiences in the specialty as a junior doctor, this fails to have a significant impact on the day to day management of epistaxis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Action on ENT good practice guide 2002. NHS modernisation agency. Department of Health

  2. Bhalla RK, Unwin D, Jones T, Lesser T (2002) Does clinical assistant experience in ENT influence general practitioner referral rates to hospital? J Laryngol Otology 116:586–588

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Department of Health (2004) http://www.nhs.uk/national plan/nhsplan.htm. Cited 11th Nov 2004

  4. Friese G, Wojciehoski RF (2005) The nose bleeds, breaks and obstructions. Emerg Med Serv 34(8):129–130, 132–5. 137

    Google Scholar 

  5. Griffiths E (1979) Incidence of ENT problems in general practice. J R Soc Med 72:740–2

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kotecha B, Cocks RA, Rothera MP (1990) The management of epistaxis in accident and emergency departments: a survey of current practice. Arch of Emerg Med 7:35–41

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Pashen D, Stevens M (2002) Management of epistaxis in general practice. Aust Fam Physician 31(8):717–21

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Pond F, Sizeland A, Epistaxis (2000) Strategies for management. Aust Fam Physician 29(10):933–8

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, Gray’s Inn Road, London, WC1X 8DA, UK

    Peter Tassone, Christos Georgalas, Esther Appleby & Bhik Kotecha

  2. 5 Brookfield Close, Long Stratton, Norfolk, NR15 2WS, UK

    Peter Tassone

Authors
  1. Peter Tassone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christos Georgalas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Esther Appleby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bhik Kotecha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Tassone.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tassone, P., Georgalas, C., Appleby, E. et al. Management of patients with epistaxis by general practitioners: impact of otolaryngology experience on their practice. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 263, 1109–1114 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-006-0141-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-006-0141-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation