The Locally Driven Temporal Bone Dissection Laboratory: A Sustainable Tool for Otologic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of a temporal bone dissection laboratory in Tanzania to support otologic surgical training for otolaryngologists in the region.

Study design: This prospective cohort study evaluates six temporal bone laboratory training sessions over the course of 11 months. Pretraining and posttraining surveys were distributed during the first year of implementation in 2023. Postsurveys were distributed both immediately and 6 months posttraining.

Setting: Single tertiary care academic medical center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Methods: Participant data for 47 attendees including country/region of practice, otologic procedures completed, and number of trainees/audiologists in their clinical practice were collected in the pretraining survey. A 5-point Likert scale was used to assess pretraining and posttraining comfort with completing common otologic procedures. Study outcomes included comfort level, barriers to implementing acquired knowledge, and overall training quality.

Results: The results highlight that participants did not have pretraining comfort with, exposure to, and training with many otologic surgeries. These limitations were largely attributed to barriers identified by participants including limited access to training, learning opportunities, and equipment for otologic procedures. Findings also indicate statistically significant increases in comfort level for the majority of common otologic procedures evaluated.

Conclusion: This study highlights that the training has been both feasible for and desired by participants, and has addressed critical needs in continued surgical training. Temporal bone dissection labs are a feasible and highly desired model to increase the otologic capacity of practicing otolaryngologists regionally and offer a promising approach for addressing the lack of training opportunities in the region.