Journal article
Management of tinnitus in English NHS audiology departments: an evaluation of current practice
Journal of evaluation in clinical practice, Vol.18(2), pp.326-334
Accepted for publication: 18 August 2010
04/2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2753.2010.01566.x
PMCID: PMC3489049
PMID: 21087449
Abstract
Rationale, aim and objective In 2009, the UK Department of Health formalized recommended National Health Service practices for the management of tinnitus from primary care onwards. It is timely therefore to evaluate the perceived practicality, utility and impact of those guidelines in the context of current practice. Methods We surveyed current practice by posting a 36-item questionnaire to all audiology and hearing therapy staff that we were able to identify as being involved in tinnitus patient care in England. Results In total, 138 out of 351 clinicians responded (39% response rate). The findings indicate a consensus opinion that management should be tailored to individual symptom profiles but that there is little standardization of assessment procedures or tools in use. Conclusions While the lack of standardized practice might provide flexibility to meet local demand, it has drawbacks. It makes it difficult to ascertain key standards of best practice, it complicates the process of clinical audit, it implies unequal patient access to care, and it limits the implementation of translational research outcomes. We recommend that core elements of practice should be standardized, including use of a validated tinnitus questionnaires and an agreed pathway for decision making to better understand the rationale for management strategies offered. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Management of tinnitus in English NHS audiology departments: an evaluation of current practice
- Creators
- Derek J. Hoare - University of NottinghamPhillip E. Gander - Marymount UniversityLuke Collins - Research AssociateSandra Smith - Research AssociateDeborah A. Hall - Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of evaluation in clinical practice, Vol.18(2), pp.326-334
- Edition
- Accepted for publication: 18 August 2010
- DOI
- 10.1111/j.1365-2753.2010.01566.x
- PMID
- 21087449
- PMCID
- PMC3489049
- NLM abbreviation
- J Eval Clin Pract
- ISSN
- 1356-1294
- eISSN
- 1365-2753
- Publisher
- Blackwell Publishing Ltd
- Number of pages
- 9
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/2012
- Academic Unit
- Radiology; Neurosurgery; Otolaryngology
- Record Identifier
- 9984318818302771
Metrics
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