Simas Vini, Hing Wayne, Pope Rodney, Climstein Mike
Water Based Research Unit, Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2020 Feb 24;6(1):e000641. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000641. eCollection 2020.
To assess awareness of external auditory exostosis (EAE) among Australian surfers.
This is a cross-sectional observational study, assessing professional and recreational Australian surfers. Currently, active surfers over 18 years of age, surfing year-round, were eligible to participate. After initial screening, individuals were asked to complete a questionnaire. All included volunteers underwent bilateral otoscopic examination, to assess the presence and severity of EAE.
A total of 113 surfers were included in the study and were divided into two groups, based on surfing status: 93 recreational surfers and 20 professional surfers. Recreational surfers were significantly older (p<0.005), more experienced (greater years surfing; p<0.005), with lower prevalence of otological symptoms (p<0.05). The most common symptoms were water trapping, impacted wax and hearing loss. Prevalence of EAE was high for both groups (95% in the professional surfers and 82.8% in the recreational surfers); however, recreational surfers had mild grade EAE (grade 1) as the most common presentation, as opposed to professionals who had severe grade EAE (grade 3) as the most common presentation (p<0.05 between groups). Awareness of the term 'surfer's ear' was high for both groups, as was knowledge of prevention options. However, fewer considered the condition to be preventable, and an even lower number reported regular use of prevention methods.
Australian surfers had a high level of awareness of EAE; however, few reported using prevention methods, despite having a high prevalence of the condition. Health practitioners should screen susceptible individuals in order to recommend appropriate preventive measures.
评估澳大利亚冲浪者对外耳道外生骨疣（EAE）的认知情况。
这是一项横断面观察性研究，对澳大利亚的职业和业余冲浪者进行评估。目前，18岁以上、全年冲浪的活跃冲浪者有资格参与。初步筛查后，要求参与者填写一份问卷。所有纳入的志愿者均接受双侧耳镜检查，以评估EAE的存在情况和严重程度。
本研究共纳入113名冲浪者，根据冲浪状态分为两组：93名业余冲浪者和20名职业冲浪者。业余冲浪者年龄显著更大（p<0.005），经验更丰富（冲浪年限更长；p<0.005），耳科症状患病率更低（p<0.05）。最常见的症状是耳内积水、耵聍堵塞和听力损失。两组EAE的患病率都很高（职业冲浪者中为95%，业余冲浪者中为82.8%）；然而，业余冲浪者最常见的表现是轻度EAE（1级），而职业冲浪者最常见的表现是重度EAE（3级）（两组之间p<0.05）。两组对“冲浪者耳”一词的认知度都很高，对预防方法的了解也很高。然而，较少有人认为这种情况是可预防的，报告经常使用预防方法的人数甚至更少。
澳大利亚冲浪者对EAE的认知度较高；然而，尽管该病患病率很高，但很少有人报告使用预防方法。医疗从业者应筛查易感个体，以便推荐适当的预防措施。
