RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The association between online health resources use in specific otolaryngology patients is poorly understood. To better understand health-related Internet use by otolaryngology patients, we surveyed first-visit patients at academic and private practice clinics in Iowa. METHODS: Data on socioeconomic status, access, and utilization of online resources were collected. Age distributions were compared by t test, and categorical variables were compared by chi-square analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios for association between independent variables (age, sex, educational attainment, otolaryngology subspecialty, etc). RESULTS: Data showed that 8.7% lacked Internet access; an additional 5.4% reported access only in a public place or at work. Younger, more educated, and more urban patients reported higher rates of Internet access. Among university patients, patients seeing head and neck oncologists were most likely to report no Internet access (10.9%). Just over one-third of patients used the Internet to research their health condition prior to their appointment. CONCLUSIONS: Internet access was far from universal among this large cohort of otolaryngology outpatients. Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients report the least online access among all otolaryngology subspecialties. Providers should consider nonelectronic patient resources for older, more rural, less educated, and HNC patient populations as online/electronic methods of communication may not be accessible to these groups.
Asunto(s)
Internet/estadística & datos numéricos , Otolaringología/métodos , Enfermedades Otorrinolaringológicas/epidemiología , Educación del Paciente como Asunto/métodos , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Adulto , Anciano , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Morbilidad/tendencias , Oportunidad Relativa , Materiales de Enseñanza , Estados Unidos/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Parotid swelling is rarely caused by pneumoparotitis from retrograde insufflation of air into Stensen's duct. Previous reports have identified occupational exposures, self-induced habits, exercise, spirometry, and short-term positive pressure airway ventilation as causes of salivary duct insufflation. METHODS: We present 2 cases of pneumoparotitis in patients on long-term oronasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for obstructive sleep apnea. RESULTS: A diagnosis of pneumoparotitis was made by CT scan in case 1 and sialography in case 2. Patients were advised to transition from oronasal to nasal-only CPAP. One patient was successfully transferred and had good symptomatic improvement, whereas the second patient did not tolerate nasal CPAP and had persistent symptoms on oronasal CPAP. CONCLUSION: Long-term use of oronasal CPAP is a potential cause of pneumoparotitis.