The Treatment Outcome of Smart Device-Based Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Prospective Cohort Study.
JMIR Mhealth Uhealth
; 11: e38986, 2023 01 12.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36633890
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a standard treatment for tinnitus that consists of directive counseling and sound therapy. However, it is based on face-to-face education and a time-consuming protocol. Smart device-based TRT (smart-TRT) seems to have many advantages, but the efficacy of this new treatment has been questioned.OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy between smart-TRT and conventional TRT (conv-TRT).METHODS:
We recruited 84 patients with tinnitus. Results were compared between 42 patients who received smart-TRT and 42 control participants who received conv-TRT. An interactive smart pad application was used for directive counseling in the smart-TRT group. The smart pad application included detailed education on ear anatomy, the neurophysiological model of tinnitus, concept of habituation, and sound therapy. The smart-TRT was bidirectional There were 17 multiple choice questions between each lesson as an interim check. The conv-TRT group underwent traditional person-to-person counseling. The primary outcome measure was the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), and the secondary outcome measure was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS).RESULTS:
Both treatments had a significant treatment effect, which comparably improved during the first 2 months. The best improvements in THI were -23.3 (95% CI -33.1 to -13.4) points at 3 months and -16.8 (95% CI -30.8 to -2.8) points at 2 months in the smart-TRT group and conv-TRT group, respectively. The improvements on the VAS were also comparable smart-TRT group -1.2 to -3.3; conv-TRT -0.7 to -1.7.CONCLUSIONS:
TRT based on smart devices can be an effective alternative for tinnitus patients. Considering the amount of time needed for person-to-person counseling, smart-TRT can be a cost-effective solution with similar treatment outcomes as conv-TRT.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Tinnitus
/
Counseling
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Etiology_studies
/
Guideline
/
Observational_studies
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
JMIR Mhealth Uhealth
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article