ENT Undergraduate Curriculum
Within this section links are provided to learning resources that students may find helpful in
achieving the intended learning objectives. These are resources developed by e-lefENT and by OCB
Media. Click on the word ‘learn’ in order to view the chosen resource.
Doctor as Practitioner
A. Consultation and communication:
a. Apply the principles of good communication in different age groups, working in
partnership with parents, families and colleagues from medical and other professions. This
includes:
b. Build rapport with patients of different age groups and their carers
c. Elicit a structured, patient centred ENT history relevant to the presenting problem(s),
where necessary from a third party
d. Obtain a relevant family history, occupational and social history
e. Assess patient’s capacity in accordance with legal requirements and GMC guidance
f. Determine the extent to which patients want to be involved in decision making about their
care and treatment and use techniques of shared decision making to facilitate their
involvement.
g. Communicate clearly, sensitively and effectively by spoken, written and electronic
methods about specific issues to patients and family
h. Communicate appropriately in difficult circumstances such as bereavement and breaking
bad news.
B. Examination:
Perform the following specific examinations, whilst communicating appropriately, obtaining
appropriate consent and recognising the conditions required when conducting intimate
examinations
a. Examine the oral cavity and oropharynx using a head torch and tongue depressor (learn
1)(learn 2)*
b. Examine the nose using a head torch and Thudicum’s speculum (learn 1)(learn 2)
c. Examine the neck (learn 1)(learn 2)*
d. Examine the ear including the external auditory meatus using the otoscope (learn)*
e. Use tuning forks to identify conductive and sensorineural hearing loss (learn)*
f. Perform basic clinical balance tests including Romberg’s, Unterberger’s and Hallpike’s
tests (learn 1)(learn 2)
g. Examine the relevant cranial nerves
C. Understand the principles of flexible and rigid endoscopy of the upper airways.
D. Investigation:
a. Formulate a plan of investigation in partnership with the patient.
b. Initiate, justify and interpret appropriate haematological and biochemical investigations.
c. Understand the principles of pure tone audiometry and tympanometry and be able to
interpret a simple air conduction audiogram.
d. Have an awareness of the types of imaging used in the investigation of ENT conditions and
when to use them. This includes CT, MR and ultrasound imaging.
e. Understand the principles of fine needle aspiration cytology
E. Diagnosis and management:
Simon Lloyd April 14 v 1.0 Doctor as a Practitioner| Page 1
ENT Undergraduate Curriculum
a. Interpret findings from history, physical and mental state-examination appreciating the
importance of clinical, psychological, spiritual, religious, social, cultural factors in clinical
conditions related to the ear nose and throat and apply the processes used by doctors to
formulate a differential diagnosis.
b. Formulate and negotiate a plan for treatment, management and discharge based on
established principles and best evidence pertaining to clinical conditions in this module.
This should be done in partnership with the patient, their carers and other health
professionals as appropriate.
c. Evaluate the impact of illness on the individual and their family and those around them
and contribute to the care of patients and their families
F. Perform the following practical procedures safely and effectively, whilst communicating
appropriately and obtaining appropriate consent:
a. Take a throat swab
b. Cauterise a nose with silver nitrate
c. Pack a nose with a nasal tampon*
d. Epley manoeuvre
G. Be able to provide immediate care including basic and advanced life support with appropriate
referral to the specialist in ENT emergencies including:
a. Airway obstruction*
b. Resuscitation of a patient with tracheostomy or laryngectomy*
c. Foreign body in the throat including bolus obstruction*
d. Foreign body in the ear*
e. Foreign body in the nose*
f. Head and neck trauma*
g. Trauma to the tympanic membrane*
h. Fractured nose*
i. Nasal septal haematoma*
j. Epistaxis including nasal packing*
k. Pinna haematoma
l. Soft tissue laceration of the head and neck
H. Have a basic knowledge of how to care for a tracheostomy
Simon Lloyd April 14 v 1.0 Doctor as a Practitioner| Page 2
