Evidence-based management of patients with vertigo, dizziness, and imbalance at an Australian metropolitan health service: an observational study of clinical practice

ABSTRACT

Aim

To determine whether patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with possible benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) are managed in accordance with best practice guidelines, and whether physiotherapists are involved in their care.

Design

Retrospective observational study.

Participants

Ninety-six consecutive patients presenting to one of three EDs with vertigo, dizziness or imbalance symptoms documented at triage. Individuals with a clear non-vestibular cause of symptoms were excluded.

Outcome Measures

Proportional adherence to clinical practice guidelines by medical and physiotherapy clinicians, primary diagnosis, incidence of falls, admission to hospital, and referral to a physiotherapy service.

Results

Adherence to clinical practice guidelines by both professions was low, with only 25 (26%, 95% CI: 18–36%) and 3 (14%, 95% CI: 4–36%) patients assessed by a medical clinician or physiotherapist, respectively, receiving the gold-standard Dix–Hallpike test. Sixty-four (67%) individuals were given a diagnosis of undifferentiated dizziness. Of the 26 (27%) patients with a primary BPPV diagnosis, only three (12%) were treated with a canalith-repositioning technique, and four (15%) reviewed by a physiotherapist.

Conclusion

Adherence to best-practice guidelines for the management of BPPV in individuals presenting to the ED is low, and physiotherapists are seldom involved in their management.

KEYWORDS:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
• Dizziness
• Physiotherapy
• Emergency Department

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the contribution of Elizabeth Talbot to audit tool and study design, and Kathryn Knight in compiling background literature.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no competing interests

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this paper can be accessed on the publisher’s website.