The tinnitus patient information pack: usefulness in intrusive tinnitus
International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance
ISSN: 0952-6862
Article publication date: 11 March 2019
Issue publication date: 11 March 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine a tinnitus patient information pack’s (TPIP) usefulness in patients suffering with tinnitus with respect to their need for further tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) and in reducing TRT cancellations and non-attenders.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper consists of prospective case series in a district general hospital ENT out-patient department.
Findings
Patients with tinnitus-related symptoms constitute around 2 per cent of the ENT OPD workload at the West Middlesex Hospital, Chelsea & Westminster NHS Trust, London, i.e., 365 patients with intrusive tinnitus were referred by the ENT surgeon for TRT; 56/365 patients (15.3 per cent) failed to attend and 60 (16.4 per cent) cancelled their appointments. The following year, a TPIP was administered to all tinnitus sufferers, despite the affliction’s intrusiveness, and told to contact the audiology department if they felt that TRT was required, which resulted in 43/233 patients (18.5 per cent) over a one-year period self-referring for TRT; 2/233 (0.9 per cent) did not attend, and 1/233 (0.4 per cent) were cancelled appointments.
Practical implications
The patient-focussed TPIP acts as an initial therapy for the tinnitus sufferer by providing reassurance and self-therapy. This results in patients who are less likely to seek TRT, leading to more efficient clinical resource usage (p<0.01).
Originality/value
The data suggest that all tinnitus sufferers presenting to ENT clinics could be handed a TPIP and empowered with the decision whether they require further intervention.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Amro Hassaan would like to thank Van Staden K. (Senior Audiologist) and Ross G. (Lead Audiologist and Head of Audiology) at West Middlesex University Hospital, Chelsea and Wesminster NHS Trust, London.
Citation
Hassaan, A. and Trinidade, A. (2019), "The tinnitus patient information pack: usefulness in intrusive tinnitus", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 32 No. 2, pp. 360-365. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHCQA-03-2018-0071
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited