ISPUB.COM The Internet Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Volume 9 Number 1 1 of 4 An Audit Of Otorhinolaryngological Practice In A Nigerian Teaching Hospital A Adoga, T Nimkur, A Adekwu, N Ma'an Citation A Adoga, T Nimkur, A Adekwu, N Ma'an. An Audit Of Otorhinolaryngological Practice In A Nigerian Teaching Hospital. The Internet Journal of Otorhinolaryngology. 2008 Volume 9 Number 1. Abstract Background We sought to audit otorhinolaryngologic practice in our center with a view to providing recommendations for improved patient care. Method A prospective audit of patients presenting to our otorhinolaryngology clinic from June 2007 to May 2008 was done. Results Four hundred and eighty six new patients were seen aged between 3 months and 82 years. There were 262 (53.9%) males and 224 (46.1%) females. Otologic presentations accounted for 238 (49%) patients, nasal presentations- 177 (36%) patients, throat presentations- 65 (14%) patients and head and neck presentations- 6 (1%) patients. There were 154 admissions and 106 surgical procedures were performed with limited personnel, diagnostic and therapeutic facilities to administer patient care. Conclusion Adequate provision of diagnostic and therapeutic facilities with specialized personnel training will improve patient care and outcome. INTRODUCTION Otorhinolaryngological practice in Nigeria is hampered by the dearth of Otorhinolaryngologists and the inadequacy of proper diagnostic and therapeutic facilities to deliver effective service. In 1998, there were about 32 practicing Otorhinolaryngologists in Nigeria, making 1 Otorhinolaryngologist per 3 million population 1 . A decade afterwards, this number has only been doubled with about 40 residents in training 2 and an increasing population to cater for. In our center like most other hospitals in Nigeria, the available personnel and equipment required for effective Otorhinolaryngological care does not match the needs. Other factors which have been cited as militating against the provision of such a care include inaccessibility to health care facilities, certain traditions and beliefs and their harmful practices and the poor treatment of acute cases patients receive from the first contact health personnel 3 . Accurate and legible medical records are essential to good quality patient care 4 but the prior lack of adequate data in our center had made retrospective studies unreliable, hence, this prospective study aimed at documenting the pattern of out-patient Otorhinolaryngological presentations in our center with a view to improving patient care and outcome within the present levels of personnel and equipment available to deliver these services. PATIENTS AND METHODS This is a hospital based prospective study spanning a period of one year (June 2007 to May 2008) and carried out in the Otorhinolaryngology unit of the Department of Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital. All patients presenting in our Otorhinolaryngology clinic within the study period were analyzed for age, sex, source of referral, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic modality offered and the outcome of treatment. The findings are presented in simple descriptive forms.