Images of otoscopy: rate and extent of non-compliance with good practice standards.

Background: The British Society of Audiology has produced clear guidelines as to how otoscopy should be undertaken; however, no nationally recognised guidelines exist for the wider clinical community. Images of otoscopy appear in many books, journals, magazines and websites. Objective: This study aimed to determine the rate of non-compliance with good practice in images of otoscopy, the seriousness of the breach, and whether this is more common in sites for professionals or the general public. Method: Google Images was searched using the terms otoscopy' and ear examination'. A total of 200 images were identified and collated. The images were reviewed for compliance with good practice standards. Results: Only 12.75 per cent of the images were graded as having no breach of good practice standards. Conclusion: Professional websites have a responsibility to show best practice. When choosing an image, the source of the image needs to be carefully considered.