TY - JOUR
T1 - Head mirror versus headlight
T2 - Illumination, visual identification and visual acuity for otolaryngological examination
AU - Lin, C. H.
AU - Hsu, H. T.
AU - Chen, P. Y.
AU - Huon, L. K.
AU - Lin, Y. Z.
AU - Hung, S. H.
PY - 2013/8
Y1 - 2013/8
N2 - Objective: To investigate and compare the performance of head mirrors and headlights during otolaryngological examination. Methods: The illuminance and illumination field of each device were measured and compared. Visual identification and visual acuity were also measured, in 13 medical students and 10 otolaryngology specialists. Results: The illuminance (mean ± standard deviation) of the LumiView, Kimscope 1 W and Kimscope 3 W headlights and a standard head mirror were 352.3 ± 9, 92.3 ± 4.5, 438 ± 15.7 and 68.3 ± 1.2 lux, respectively. The illumination field of the head mirror (mean ± standard deviation) was 348 ± 29.8 grids, significantly greater than that of the Kimscope 3 W headlight (183 ± 9.2 grids) (p = 0.0017). The student group showed no statistically significant difference between visual identification with the best headlight and the head mirror (score means ± standard deviations: 56.2 ± 9 and 53.3 ± 14.1, respectively; p = 0.3). The expert group scored significantly higher for visual identification with head mirrors versus headlights (59.7 ± 3.3 vs 55.2 ± 5.8, respectively; p = 0.0035), but showed no difference for visual acuity. Conclusion: Despite the advantages of headlight illumination, head mirrors provided better, shadow-free illumination. Despite no differences amongst students, head mirrors performed better than headlights in experienced hands.
AB - Objective: To investigate and compare the performance of head mirrors and headlights during otolaryngological examination. Methods: The illuminance and illumination field of each device were measured and compared. Visual identification and visual acuity were also measured, in 13 medical students and 10 otolaryngology specialists. Results: The illuminance (mean ± standard deviation) of the LumiView, Kimscope 1 W and Kimscope 3 W headlights and a standard head mirror were 352.3 ± 9, 92.3 ± 4.5, 438 ± 15.7 and 68.3 ± 1.2 lux, respectively. The illumination field of the head mirror (mean ± standard deviation) was 348 ± 29.8 grids, significantly greater than that of the Kimscope 3 W headlight (183 ± 9.2 grids) (p = 0.0017). The student group showed no statistically significant difference between visual identification with the best headlight and the head mirror (score means ± standard deviations: 56.2 ± 9 and 53.3 ± 14.1, respectively; p = 0.3). The expert group scored significantly higher for visual identification with head mirrors versus headlights (59.7 ± 3.3 vs 55.2 ± 5.8, respectively; p = 0.0035), but showed no difference for visual acuity. Conclusion: Despite the advantages of headlight illumination, head mirrors provided better, shadow-free illumination. Despite no differences amongst students, head mirrors performed better than headlights in experienced hands.
KW - Diagnosis
KW - Diagnostic Techniques And Procedures
KW - Lighting
KW - Otolaryngology
KW - Physical Examination
KW - Visual Acuity
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U2 - 10.1017/S0022215113001424
DO - 10.1017/S0022215113001424
M3 - Article
C2 - 23834741
AN - SCOPUS:84883367972
SN - 0022-2151
VL - 127
SP - 744
EP - 748
JO - Journal of Laryngology and Otology
JF - Journal of Laryngology and Otology
IS - 8
ER -