Myringoplasty Audit Purpose and Methodology

The National Comparative Myringoplasty Audit
When? Data collection started end of February. However you can register and join in anytime. Introduction The last national comparative myringoplasty audit was carried out 8 years ago (Clin Oto 1999 24:126-129). This audit will use the same web-based technology as the recent Tonsillectomy Audit, and is a tailored version of the general EarUK Otology Audit available on www.ear-audit.net Who? All surgeons doing myringoplasty - trainees, SAS, consultants Why? To: 1. Enable the participating surgeons to compare their performance with that of two standard deviations of the mean of others entering data 2. Find the overall incidence of intact tympanic membrane and disease-free ears following myringoplasty, in children and in adults 3. Identify variables that could influence success rate Confidentiality? Patient confidentiality will be protected, as all hospital numbers will be stored in the database as encrypted numbers. Surgeon confidentiality will be provided by enabling participants to change their password to one only they know. Method? Data entry will be via the web-based database. This can either be entered directly from the notes in real time, or via a paper form printed from the web-site, completed for each patient, and then transcribed electronically to the database.&nnbspData completeness will be ensured by the presence of obligatory fields (an advantage of entering data in real time electronically), and data validation will be carried out by random site visits to participating hospitals by an external inspector/auditor to perform random inspection of patient records. MREC has confirmed that formal approval by them or LREC is NOT required. Should local LRECs demand proof of this we can provide a copy of the relevant MREC letter on application. Inclusion criteria: 1. All perforations of the pars tensa 2. All age groups 3. Cortical mastoidectomy and myringoplasty for non-cholesteatoma ears Exclusion criteria: 1. Surgery for Cholesteatoma 2. Cases when concomitant ossiculoplasty is performed How to register as a user? New users: Phone Stephen Wilson on 01473 704382 , or email him to obtain login user name and password. The latter can be changed by you so you alone know it Current users of the EarUK web-based audit system: After registering, can continue to input the otology data in the usual way but the input for the myringoplasty data will be through the hyperlink in the website. Getting Started Register as above and get a user name and password. Access the Common Otology Audit home page either directly (www.ear-audit.net) and click on "UK Myringoplasty Audit", or via the ENT-UK web site (www.entuk.org) and click on "Audits" on left side of the home page, and then on "web-based Common Otology Database" and then on "UK Myringoplasty Audit" as above "UK Myringoplasty Audit" page - Scroll down on "Hospital Name" to find your hospital, and then enter your user name and password. When finished click "submit" to access the "Myringoplasty Menu". "Myringoplasty Menu" page - on first visit personalise your password by clicking on "Change Password". Otherwise "Click on "Create New Case" or "Review/Update" depending if patient is new, or follow-up or if you are entering operative data Data will be entered once preoperatively, preferably when listing the patient for surgery The pre-op audiogram is the one closest to surgery, so will be found on the "Operation" page. Just click on the dB figure for AC or BC and it will automatically appear on the grid. Postoperative data is entered at dated intervals of your own choosing postoperatively. The pre-operative/operative/postoperative forms will be linked by using a case code (combination of patient Number, date of listing and side of operation) to distinguish it from a later, separate, episode involving the other side. Any problems contact Stephen Wilson, Webmaster, as above

The National Comparative Myringoplasty Audit

When?
Data collection started end of February. However you can register and join in anytime.

Introduction
The last national comparative myringoplasty audit was carried out 8 years ago (Clin Oto 1999 24:126-129). This audit will use the same web-based technology as the recent Tonsillectomy Audit, and is a tailored version of the general EarUK Otology Audit available on www.ear-audit.net

Who?
All surgeons doing myringoplasty - trainees, SAS, consultants

Why?
To:
1. Enable the participating surgeons to compare their performance with that of two standard deviations of the mean of others entering data
2. Find the overall incidence of intact tympanic membrane and disease-free ears following myringoplasty, in children and in adults
3. Identify variables that could influence success rate

Confidentiality?
Patient confidentiality will be protected, as all hospital numbers will be stored in the database as encrypted numbers.
Surgeon confidentiality will be provided by enabling participants to change their password to one only they know.

Method?
Data entry will be via the web-based database. This can either be entered directly from the notes in real time, or via a paper form printed from the web-site, completed for each patient, and then transcribed electronically to the database.&nnbspData completeness will be ensured by the presence of obligatory fields (an advantage of entering data in real time electronically), and data validation will be carried out by random site visits to participating hospitals by an external inspector/auditor to perform random inspection of patient records.

MREC has confirmed that formal approval by them or LREC is NOT required.
Should local LRECs demand proof of this we can provide a copy of the relevant MREC letter on application.

Inclusion criteria:
1. All perforations of the pars tensa
2. All age groups
3. Cortical mastoidectomy and myringoplasty for non-cholesteatoma ears

Exclusion criteria:
1. Surgery for Cholesteatoma
2. Cases when concomitant ossiculoplasty is performed

How to register as a user?
New users:
Phone Stephen Wilson on 01473 704382 , or email him to obtain login user name and password.
The latter can be changed by you so you alone know it

Current users of the EarUK web-based audit system:
After registering, can continue to input the otology data in the usual way but the input for the myringoplasty data will be through the hyperlink in the website.

Getting Started

Register as above and get a user name and password.
Access the Common Otology Audit home page either directly (www.ear-audit.net) and click on "UK Myringoplasty Audit",
or via the ENT-UK web site (www.entuk.org) and click on "Audits" on left side of the home page, and then on "web-based Common Otology Database" and then on "UK Myringoplasty Audit" as above
"UK Myringoplasty Audit" page - Scroll down on "Hospital Name" to find your hospital, and then enter your user name and password. When finished click "submit" to access the "Myringoplasty Menu".
"Myringoplasty Menu" page - on first visit personalise your password by clicking on "Change Password". Otherwise "Click on "Create New Case" or "Review/Update" depending if patient is new, or follow-up or if you are entering operative data
Data will be entered once preoperatively, preferably when listing the patient for surgery
The pre-op audiogram is the one closest to surgery, so will be found on the "Operation" page. Just click on the dB figure for AC or BC and it will automatically appear on the grid. Postoperative data is entered at dated intervals of your own choosing postoperatively.
The pre-operative/operative/postoperative forms will be linked by using a case code (combination of patient Number, date of listing and side of operation) to distinguish it from a later, separate, episode involving the other side.
Any problems contact Stephen Wilson, Webmaster, as above