Assessment of the light intensity of otoscopes utilized in teaching hospitals

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: To attain an accurate otoscopic diagnosis, a functioning device with adequate capacity must be used. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the light intensity of otoscopes, comparing it utilizing the batteries present at the moment of calibration and after new batteries were supplied. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a historical cohort, which assessed 38 otoscopes, measuring the light intensity with the batteries present at the moment of assessment compared to the intensity with new batteries, as well as charge of the test batteries and the new batteries. RESULTS: The mean of the sum of new batteries' charge was 3.19 V, and of the test batteries was 2.70 V, representing a decrease of 18.02% in charge. The mean luminosity with the new batteries was 366.89 lumens, whereas in the test batteries it was 188.32 lumens, representing a decrease of 83.75% in the light intensity. Student's t-test was applied for data comparison, showing a statistical difference between the light intensity with the original batteries and the new batteries (p = 0.0001; CI = 0.95). CONCLUSION: There was a statistically significant difference between the proportions of light intensity in the otoscopes. A small variation in battery charge results in a great variation in light.引言与研究背景：要获得准确的耳镜诊断结果，必须使用性能正常且容量充足的设备。 研究目的：评估耳镜的光照强度，并对比校准时所用电池与更换新电池后的光照强度差异。 研究方法：本研究为基于历史性队列的横断面研究，共纳入38台耳镜进行评估。分别使用评估时原配电池与全新电池测量其光照强度，同时检测原配电池与新电池的电压值。 研究结果：新电池的总电压均值为3.19 V，原配电池的总电压均值为2.70 V，电压下降幅度达18.02%。使用新电池时的平均光照强度为366.89流明，使用原配电池时仅为188.32流明，光照强度下降幅度达83.75%。采用学生t检验（Student's t-test）进行数据对比，结果显示原配电池与新电池对应的光照强度存在统计学差异（p = 0.0001；95%置信区间CI=0.95）。 研究结论：耳镜在不同电池下的光照强度存在统计学显著差异。电池电量的微小变化会导致光照强度出现大幅波动。