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Journals / Dicle Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 19 Sayı: 1

Evaluation of Veterinarians’ Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches to Otitis Externa: A Survey Research

Veteriner Hekimlerin Otitis Eksterna Tanı ve Tedavi Yaklaşımlarının Değerlendirilmesi: Anket Çalışması

Eylem Bektaş Bilgiç(İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ-CERRAHPAŞA)0000-0002-2745-9511
Alper Demirutku(İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ-CERRAHPAŞA)0000-0001-5788-1660
Elif Melisa Pelit(İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ-CERRAHPAŞA)0009-0006-0435-7201
Elif Sinem Aydan0009-0001-7642-3072
Yusuf Altundağ(TEKİRDAĞ NAMIK KEMAL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0006-7341-7116
Berna Ersöz Kanay(DİCLE ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-5165-0618
Pages
63–69
Publication Date
2026-06-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings indicate that veterinarians generally adopt current clinical approaches in the diagnosis and management of OE; however, variability in certain diagnostic and therapeutic practices suggests that more standardized clinical protocols and increased access to advanced diagnostic tools may improve the clinical management of otitis externa.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Otitis externa (OE) is one of the most common ear diseases encountered in small animal clinical practice.
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Key Findings & Data:A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted between July 1 and September 1, 2025, among veterinarians working in clinical practices in Istanbul.
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Conclusion & Impact:These findings indicate that veterinarians generally adopt current clinical approaches in the diagnosis and management of OE; however, variability in certain diagnostic and therapeutic practices suggests that more standardized clinical protocols and increased access to advanced diagnostic tools may improve the clinical management of otitis externa.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2025 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Klinik yönetim · kulak muayenesi · otitis eksterna

Abstract

Otitis externa (OE) is one of the most common ear diseases encountered in small animal clinical practice. Despite its high prevalence, the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches used by veterinarians may vary depending on clinical experience, available resources, and access to advanced diagnostic tools. This study aimed to evaluate veterinarians’ clinical approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of otitis externa and to identify potential differences in diagnostic and therapeutic practices. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted between July 1 and September 1, 2025, among veterinarians working in clinical practices in Istanbul. A total of 330 veterinarians voluntarily participated in the study by completing an online survey distributed through social media and professional communication groups. The questionnaire consisted of two sections and 21 statements evaluating clinicians’ approaches to OE diagnosis and treatment using a five-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic characteristics and survey responses, and Chi-square tests were performed to evaluate associations between demographic variables and responses. Most participants reported routinely performing ear examinations and otoscopic evaluations in patients presented with ear complaints. Awareness of breed predisposition and owner education regarding OE were also high among respondents. However, variations were observed in practices related to ear cleaning, microbiological sampling, and the use of imaging techniques. Acute OE was reported to be frequently encountered and generally manageable within a short period, whereas chronic OE was considered more difficult to treat. Significant associations were identified between several survey statements and demographic variables such as age, gender, and professional title. These findings indicate that veterinarians generally adopt current clinical approaches in the diagnosis and management of OE; however, variability in certain diagnostic and therapeutic practices suggests that more standardized clinical protocols and increased access to advanced diagnostic tools may improve the clinical management of otitis externa.

Özet

Otitis eksterna (OE), küçük hayvan klinik pratiğinde en sık karşılaşılan kulak hastalıklarından biridir. Hastalığın yüksek görülme sıklığına rağmen veteriner hekimlerin tanı ve tedavi yaklaşımları klinik deneyim, mevcut imkânlar ve ileri tanı yöntemlerine erişim gibi faktörlere bağlı olarak farklılık gösterebilmektedir. Bu çalışmada veteriner hekimlerin otitis eksterna tanı ve tedavisine yönelik klinik yaklaşımlarının değerlendirilmesi ve tanısal ile terapötik uygulamalardaki olası farklılıkların belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma, 1 Temmuz–1 Eylül 2025 tarihleri arasında İstanbul’da kliniklerde çalışan veteriner hekimler arasında gerçekleştirilen kesitsel ve anket temelli bir araştırma olarak tasarlanmıştır. Sosyal medya ve mesleki iletişim grupları aracılığıyla paylaşılan çevrim içi ankete toplam 330 veteriner hekim gönüllü olarak katılmıştır. Anket iki bölüm ve otitis eksterna tanı ve tedavi yaklaşımlarını değerlendirmeye yönelik 21 ifadeden oluşmuş ve beşli Likert ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde tanımlayıcı istatistikler kullanılmış, demografik değişkenler ile anket yanıtları arasındaki ilişkiler Ki-kare testi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Katılımcıların büyük çoğunluğunun kulak muayenesi ve otoskopik değerlendirmeyi rutin olarak uyguladığı belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca ırk predispozisyonu konusunda farkındalığın ve hasta sahiplerinin bilgilendirilmesinin yüksek olduğu görülmüştür. Bununla birlikte kulak temizliği uygulamaları, mikrobiyolojik örnekleme ve görüntüleme yöntemlerinin kullanımında farklılıklar olduğu saptanmıştır. Akut OE olgularının klinik pratikte sık karşılaşıldığı ve genellikle kısa sürede tedavi edilebildiği, buna karşın kronik OE olgularının daha zor yönetildiği bildirilmiştir. Bazı anket ifadeleri ile yaş, cinsiyet ve mesleki unvan gibi demografik değişkenler arasında anlamlı ilişkiler tespit edilmiştir. Bu bulgular veteriner hekimlerin OE tanı ve tedavisinde güncel klinik yaklaşımları genel olarak benimsediğini göstermektedir. Bununla birlikte bazı tanısal ve terapötik basamaklarda gözlenen farklılıklar, daha standardize klinik protokollerin geliştirilmesi ve ileri tanı yöntemlerine erişimin artırılmasının OE’nin klinik yönetimini iyileştirebileceğini düşündürmektedir

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Cite This Article

Bilgiç, E. B., Demirutku, A., Pelit, E. M., Aydan, E. S., Altundağ, Y., Kanay, B. E. (2026). Evaluation of Veterinarians’ Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches to Otitis Externa: A Survey Research. Dicle Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 19 Sayı: 1, 63–69. https://doi.org/10.47027/duvetfd.1904134

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