Figure 2. Diagnoses made
Across both groups, specialty registrars were significantly more likely to refer patients for vestibular physiotherapy, in 9/33 (27%) cases vs 3/52(6%) of cases for consultants (p=0.0091). Consultants were significantly less likely to request any investigations for patients in the QG 2/20 (10%) versus 14/30 (47%) in the NQG (p=0.0055). No differences in outcomes were observed in either group between specialty registrars and consultants when it came to making a diagnosis, requesting additional face-to-face appointments, discharging patients and requesting telephone follow-up.
Sixteen patients who received and returned a completed questionnaire 16/35 (46%) found the questionnaire a positive addition to their consultation, 3/35 (9%) did not find it a positive addition and 16/35 (46%) were unsure. The clinicians found the questionnaire helped the consultation 24/35 (69%) of the time and thought that in 22/35 (63%) of cases, they would have found the questionnaire helpful even in a pre-COVID19, face-to-face consultation.