Evaluation of 5536 patients treated in an integrative outpatient tinnitus treatment center-immediate effects and a modeling approach for sustainability.

Thomas Ostermann,Katja Boehm,Martin Kusatz

doi:10.1186/s12913-016-1644-7

Thomas Ostermann, Katja Boehm + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1644-7

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Abstract

BackgroundTinnitus is an increasingly serious problem for health care systems. According to epidemiological data, 7–14 % of outpatients have asked their physician about tinnitus and management strategies. Integrative outpatient treatments are currently regarded as promising therapeutic approaches for managing tinnitus. In this article we report on the treatment success of an outpatient tinnitus treatment center in Germany.MethodsThis cohort study included pre-post data of 5536 outpatients which were treated between 2003 and 2010 in the tinnitus-therapy center, Krefeld-Düsseldorf (TTZ). The intervention consisted of psychological immunization training as well as an auditory stimulation therapy component. The main outcome parameter was the score of the Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ) which was assessed before and after a 9 days treatment and (in a small subsample) at a 6 months follow-up. Missing data were multiply imputed. Pre-post effect sizes were calculated and adjusted for regression to the mean (RTM).ResultsRTM-adjusted treatment effects at the end of treatment were estimated as −18.6 (CI: −18.9 to 18.2, p < 0.001) score points which corresponds to a standardized effect of d = −1.03 (CI: −1.05 to −1.01). These effects can be corroborated in various subgroups and all subscales of the TQ (d ranging from −0.31 to −0.97).ConclusionThe study suggests the effectiveness of this outpatient tinnitus therapy concept. Multiple imputations techniques and RTM analysis were helpful in carving out true treatment effects.

Highlights

Tinnitus is an increasingly serious problem for health care systems
Duration of tinnitus was positively skewed with a mean of 60.2 ± 82.5 months with 42,9 % of patients suffering from tinnitus for more than three years
Outcomes After 9 days of tinnitus training a reduction of −18.6 points (CI: −18.9 to –18.2, p < 0.001) of the TF-Score was estimated for all patients, which equals a high standardised effect of -d = −1.03 (CI: −1.05 to −1.01)

Summary

Introduction

Tinnitus is an increasingly serious problem for health care systems. Tinnitus is a major problem of almost all Western health care systems. It is often associated with sensorineural hearing impairment but the effects of tinnitus are primarily of psychosocial nature [1]. According to epidemiological studies in different countries the prevalence of tinnitus, varies between 4.4 and 15.1 % for adults and between 7.6 and 20.1 % for individuals below the age of 50 years [2]. 7–14 % of outpatients have asked their physician about tinnitus and management strategies [1]

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Conclusion