PCH Ear Portal: An urban-based Ears, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Audiology referral telehealth portal to provide equitable access to specialist ear health services for children

Eligible participants will be identified by ENT staff from the outpatient waitlist and triage of referrals. Children will be recruited in cohorts from the start of the waitlist (Cohort 1), the middle of the waitlist (Cohort 2) and the end of the waitlist (Cohort 3). Once informed consent obtained, screening ear health assessments including medical history, otoscopy, tympanometry, audiometry and otoacoustics emissions testing appropriate for the child's age will be collected by the research assistant in the research clinic at PCH during a single face to face visit. If the child has otitis media requiring assessment by ENT/Audiology, a referral and the results will be transfered electronically to the PCH multidisciplinary team (MDT) consisting of an ENT doctor, audiologist, paediatrician and ENT clinical nurse specialist. If the child does not have otitis media requiring MDT assessment, they will be screenfailed from the study and appropriate further follow up arranged (e.g. discharge from care, follow up with GP etc.). The MDT will look at the results and develop an ear health care plan for the participant. The care plan may include further follow up ear health assessments (watching and waiting), prescribing antibiotics, referral for surgery etc. The ear health care plan will be sent back to the research assistant for implementation with the participant via phone as soon as possible. The participant also has the option of phone or video call directly with the MDT if they wish, according to their needs. If further consultation is required, more than one session may be arranged. The time until assessment will be calculated from initial referral until Ear Portal telehealth assessment.