Clinical experiences, current approaches, opinions and awareness of healthcare professionals regarding the audio-vestibular consequences of individuals with traumatic brain injury: a cross-sectional online survey study.
BMJ Open
; 14(7): e078017, 2024 Jul 08.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38977364
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the experiences, current approaches, opinions and awareness of healthcare professionals (HCPs) caring for adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) regarding the audio-vestibular consequences. DESIGN/SETTING:
Cross-sectional online survey study.PARTICIPANTS:
HCPs with experience of caring for adults with TBI, who were not ENT (ear nose throat) specialists or audiologists.METHODS:
The study was conducted from May 2022 to December 2022. The online survey consisted of 16 closed and open-text questions in English and Turkish about clinical experience, current approaches and awareness of audio-vestibular consequences following TBI. Frequencies of responses to closed questions and associations between variables were analysed using SPSS V.28. Open-text responses were summarised in Microsoft Excel.RESULTS:
Seventy HCPs participated from 17 professions and 14 countries, with the majority from the UK (42.9%). HCPs stated that 'some' to 'all' of their patients had auditory problems such as 'inability to understand speech-in-noise' (66%), 'tinnitus' (64%), 'hyperacusis' (57%) and balance problems such as 'dizziness' (79%) and 'vertigo' (67%). Usually, HCPs asked about the balance status of patients at appointments and when they observed dizziness and/or balance disorder they used screening tests, most commonly finger-to-nose (53%). For auditory impairments, HCPs preferred referring patients with TBI to audiology/ENT services. However, 6% of HCPs felt that audio-vestibular conditions could be ignored on referral because patients with TBI struggled with many impairments. Additionally, 44% would suggest hearing aids to patients with TBI with hearing loss 'if they would like to use' rather than 'definitely'.CONCLUSIONS:
Many audio-vestibular impairments are observed by HCPs caring for patients with TBI. The assessment and intervention opinions and awareness of HCPs for these impairments vary. However, non-expert HCPs may not be aware of negative consequences of untreated audio-vestibular impairments following TBI. Therefore, developing a simple framework for screening and indications of audio-vestibular impairments for referral may be helpful for non-audiological specialists regularly seeing these patients.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Lesiones Traumáticas del Encéfalo
Límite:
Adult
/
Female
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Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
BMJ Open
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido