(1116) Insights Into Epistaxis Management: A Survey of Medical Student Knowledge

Introduction: All physicians should know how to apply digital pressure to control epistaxis. Our aim was to assess the basic understanding of epistaxis management among medical students and identify knowledge gaps to guide future educational interventions.

Methods: An electronic survey was conducted among medical students in the United States (US) and Canada. The survey comprised 4 demographic questions, 4 inquiries related to medical student education, and 8 epistaxis management questions. Accuracy of answers to epistaxis management questions was compared.

Results: 103 medical students responded, with 59 (57.3%) in preclinical years (1st or 2nd year) and 44 (42.7%) in clinical years (3rd or 4th year). Among respondents, 75 (72.8%) had prior epistaxis management experience (n = 52, 70.3% for themselves), but only 33 (32%) had received formal epistaxis education during medical school.

The mean score for the epistaxis management questions was 4.2/8 (53%). Medical students struggled with basic epistaxis management, such as identifying the correct location to apply digital pressure (n = 59, 57.3% correct), the appropriate head position (n = 56, 54.4% correct), and the duration of pressure application (n = 64, 62.1% correct). Only 2 students (1.9%) correctly selected all 5 correct anterior epistaxis management strategies, and only 1 student (1%) selected all 4 correct posterior epistaxis management strategies. In total, 77 students (74.8%) correctly selected 2 or more correct anterior epistaxis management strategies (out of 5), compared to only 55 students (53.4%) who did so for posterior epistaxis. Of the total, 94 (91.3%) identified nasal packing as a correct technique for anterior epistaxis management, compared to only 49 (47.6%) for posterior.

Conclusions: Low levels of epistaxis management knowledge among medical students, coupled with limited formal education on the subject, underscores the necessity for focused educational interventions to ensure proficiency in addressing this common otolaryngologic issue.