iPhone otoscopes: Currently available, but reliable for tele-otoscopy in the hands of parents?

OBJECTIVES: Tele-otoscopy has been validated for tympanostomy surveillance and remote diagnosis when images are recorded by trained professionals. The CellScope iPhone Otoscope is a device that may be used for tele-otoscopy and it enables parents to record their children's ear examinations and send the films for remote physician diagnosis. This study aims to determine the ability to diagnose, and the reliability of the diagnosis when utilizing video exams obtained by a parent versus video exams obtained by an otolaryngologist. METHODS: Parents of children ages 17 years or younger attempted recordings of the tympanic membrane of their children with the CellScope after a video tutorial; a physician subsequently used the device to record the same ear. Recordings occurred prior to standard pediatric otolaryngology office evaluation. Later, a remote pediatric otolaryngologist attempted diagnosis solely based on the videos, blinded to whether the examination was filmed by a parent or physician. Interrater reliability between video diagnosis and original diagnosis on pneumatic otoscopy was measured, and objective tympanic membrane landmarks visualized on the films were recorded. RESULTS: Eighty ears were enrolled and recorded. There was low interrater agreement (k = 0.42) between diagnosis based on parent videos as compared with pneumatic otoscopy. There was high agreement (k = 0.71) between diagnosis based on physician videos and pneumatic otoscopy. Physician videos and parent videos had only slight agreement on objective landmarks identified (k = 0.087). CONCLUSIONS: iPhone otoscopy provides reliable tele-otoscopy images in when used by trained professionals but, currently, images obtained by parents are not suitable for use in diagnosis.