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As otolaryngologists play increasingly important roles in the evaluation and treatment of sleep disordered breathing, it is important that all practitioners systematically study the field of sleep. The curriculum outlined in this article has been developed for resident training at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine. It is divided into goals and objectives, curriculum, differential diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing, international classification of sleep disordered breathing, a glossary of sleep terms, and a list of resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a survey of otolaryngologists at all Veterans Administration and Department of Defense hospitals in the United States concerning the nature and scope of their treatment of sleep-disordered breathing. Frequency of sleep tests in the hospitals; Procedures preferred by otolaryngologists for treating snoring; Treatment of sleep apnea patients.

Objectives: 1. Characterize patient visits for chronic rhinosinusitis on the basis of age, gender, race, diagnostic services, and medication use. 2. Evaluate regional differences in patient visits for chronic rhinosinusitis., Study Design: Analysis of cross-sectional survey data from two national databases of ambulatory medical encounters., Setting: Not applicable., Subjects and Methods: Four years (2003-2006) of data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were analyzed. Visits involving chronic rhinosinusitis were identified by using reported diagnostic codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision. They were weighted to provide national estimates of care. Data were analyzed with the Pearson chi(2) test using the SPSS 16.2 Complex Samples Module, taking into account the complex survey design and multiple time periods., Results: A total of 4617 patient visits for chronic rhinosinusitis were identified, accounting for 1.95 percent of all visits. With the application of weights to this sample, these visits represent 91.2 million national visits. A significantly higher proportion of visits in the South involved African Americans (Pearson chi(2) = 69.5, F = 6.7, df = 2.8, 2118, P < 0.01). Significantly fewer diagnostic services were provided or ordered in the Northeast (Pearson chi(2) = 64.8, F = 4.0, df = 4.3, 3247, P < 0.01). Providers in the Northeast were also significantly less likely to order or renew more than three medications at the visit (Pearson chi(2) = 54.0, F = 3.1, df = 2.6, 1930, P < 0.05). No regional differences were seen for age, gender, or setting type., Conclusion: Significant regional variations exist for chronic rhinosinusitis in patient demographics, diagnosis, and management. Continuing research is needed to refine physician awareness, evaluation, and treatment of this disorder.