Evaluation of a Diagnostic Aid Tool for the Management of Vertigo Patients by General Practitioners: A Retrospective Study at Strasbourg University Hospital

What this Trial Is About

Consultations for vertigo in general practice are challenging because many practitioners lack experience, which can lead to inaccurate patient referrals and missed opportunities or misuse of healthcare resources. This research evaluates a diagnostic aid tool designed to help general practitioners manage vertigo patients more effectively. The study is observational and conducted at the Strasbourg University Hospital to assess how well this tool supports diagnosis and referral decisions. The diagnostic aid tool is a decision tree that guides general practitioners in diagnosing vertigo and deciding on patient referrals. The study involves reviewing patient files where initial care was given by a medical student using the decision tree, followed by a definitive diagnosis from an ENT physician during the same hospital visit. The tool's performance is evaluated by comparing its diagnosis against the ENT specialist's diagnosis. Participants will have had their consultation data, including interviews, clinical exams, and diagnoses, recorded and available for review. Researchers will measure the percentage of cases where the decision tree diagnosis agrees with the ENT physician's diagnosis within one year. The study excludes patients with chronic vestibular conditions or incomplete records, focusing on real-world application. Participation involves retrospective data review without direct interventions or follow-up visits.

Diagnostic Aid for Vertigo Patients