A Japanese nationwide survey for evaluation of the comprehensibility of alternative audiometry display formats: Insight into otolaryngologists' cognitive processes.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to elucidate opinions regarding comprehensibility of audiometry display formats among otolaryngologists in Japan, and to identify the characteristics of otolaryngologists' cognitive processes for audiometry.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional nationwide questionnaire-based mail survey regarding the comprehensibility of audiometry display formats among 543 Japanese otolaryngologists. Of 543 otolaryngologists to whom the questionnaires were mailed, 137 replied to the questions. For the analysis, the sample size used was 112 participants. The questionnaire contained questions regarding the otolaryngologists' occupational characteristics, and assessed their opinions of four comprehensibility aspects of five display formats.

RESULTS

Otolaryngologists in clinics indicated that the passage of time and changes in thresholds of each frequency in numeric tables were ordinary or incomprehensible. More than 60% of otolaryngologists with extensive experience in using electronic medical records indicated that both, the passage of time and change in the thresholds in overlaid thresholds on a chart were comprehensible.

CONCLUSIONS

Display formats in audiometry influenced the comprehension of pure tone audiometry data. Our results suggest that overlaid thresholds on a chart rather than numeric table or multi-dimensional charts are the primary choice for computerized audiometry display formats in most aspects of audiometry.