Meaning of Life in Patients with Tinnitus: A New Questionnaire?

Frédéric

Member
Author
Podcast Patron
Benefactor
Advocate
Jan 2, 2016
949
Marseille, France
Tinnitus Since
11/19/2012
Cause of Tinnitus
acoustic trauma
Do they want to make THI and THQ obsolete?

An Exploratory Step Toward Measuring the 'Meaning of Life' in Patients with Tinnitus and in Cochlear Implant Users.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Many questionnaires attempt to quantify the "quality of life." However, we believe understanding the quality of life is complex, and many widely used questionnaires do not capture the broad range of factors that we believe are important. Many do not include questions about communicating.

PURPOSE:
We developed a preliminary questionnaire designed to measure "The Meaning of Life" from a broader perspective.

RESEARCH DESIGN:
We reviewed other scales and sought input from individuals with disabilities and developed an initial 23-item questionnaire.

STUDY SAMPLE:
As a first step, we sampled 116 adults with tinnitus and 196 with cochlear implants (CIs). Individuals who were participating in our CI or tinnitus research programs participated.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:
To compare differences between the two participant groups, independent sample t-tests were completed for specific items on the questionnaire and for the total score. We compared age and gender differences across all participants using t-tests. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to examine the relationship among the questionnaire items using oblique rotation to produce correlated factors. Extracted factors with an eigenvalue >1.0 were retained according to the Kaiser-Guttman rule.

RESULTS:
Four factors were prominent in this initial sample, which we labeled (1) friendship and positive outlook, (2) physical health, (3) hearing and mental health, and (4) satisfaction with life. Participants with tinnitus reported more trouble sleeping than participants with CI, whereas both groups had lower scores on hearing. Older patients reported more difficulty with remembering things but were more satisfied with their financial situation. Female participants reportedly had more hobbies and were more satisfied with their sex lives than male participants.

CONCLUSIONS:
This exploratory study intended to take a broader look at quality of life scales. Further work is needed with a larger sample including younger and older participants with and without disabilities.
 
Do they want to make THI and THQ obsolete?

An Exploratory Step Toward Measuring the 'Meaning of Life' in Patients with Tinnitus and in Cochlear Implant Users.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Many questionnaires attempt to quantify the "quality of life." However, we believe understanding the quality of life is complex, and many widely used questionnaires do not capture the broad range of factors that we believe are important. Many do not include questions about communicating.

PURPOSE:
We developed a preliminary questionnaire designed to measure "The Meaning of Life" from a broader perspective.

RESEARCH DESIGN:
We reviewed other scales and sought input from individuals with disabilities and developed an initial 23-item questionnaire.

STUDY SAMPLE:
As a first step, we sampled 116 adults with tinnitus and 196 with cochlear implants (CIs). Individuals who were participating in our CI or tinnitus research programs participated.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:
To compare differences between the two participant groups, independent sample t-tests were completed for specific items on the questionnaire and for the total score. We compared age and gender differences across all participants using t-tests. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to examine the relationship among the questionnaire items using oblique rotation to produce correlated factors. Extracted factors with an eigenvalue >1.0 were retained according to the Kaiser-Guttman rule.

RESULTS:
Four factors were prominent in this initial sample, which we labeled (1) friendship and positive outlook, (2) physical health, (3) hearing and mental health, and (4) satisfaction with life. Participants with tinnitus reported more trouble sleeping than participants with CI, whereas both groups had lower scores on hearing. Older patients reported more difficulty with remembering things but were more satisfied with their financial situation. Female participants reportedly had more hobbies and were more satisfied with their sex lives than male participants.

CONCLUSIONS:
This exploratory study intended to take a broader look at quality of life scales. Further work is needed with a larger sample including younger and older participants with and without disabilities.
"Female participants had more hobbies and were more satisfied with their sex lives"

Frederic, I want in on the next trial...
 
I'm not sure what this is trying to achieve. Statistical data that tinnitus does indeed suck and degrades our quality of life?
 
Yet another questionnaire... Really I do not know what to think about.

Measuring Recovery in Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and Tinnitus Patients in a Mental Health Care Setting: Validation of the I.ROC

Abstract
This study was aimed at validating the Individual Recovery Outcomes Counter (I.ROC) for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and tinnitus patients in a mental health care setting. There is a need for an accessible instrument to monitor treatment effects in this population. The I.ROC measures recovery, seeing recovery as a process of experiencing a meaningful life, despite the limitations caused by illness or disability. A total of 84 adults referred to 2 specialist mental health centers for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and tinnitus adults in the Netherlands completed the Dutch version of I.ROC and 3 other instruments. A total of 25 patients refused or did not complete the instruments: 50% of patients using sign language and 18% of patients using spoken language. Participants completed the measures at intake and then every 3 months. In this sample I.ROC demonstrated good internal consistency and convergent validity. Sensitivity to change was good, especially over a period of 6 or 9 months. This study provides preliminary evidence that the I.ROC is a valid instrument measuring recovery for hard-of-hearing and tinnitus patients using spoken language. For deaf patients using sign language, specifically those with limited language skills in spoken and written Dutch, more research is needed.

Full article: https://academic.oup.com/jdsde/advance-article/doi/10.1093/deafed/enz043/5647301
 
Yet another questionnaire... Really I do not know what to think about.

Measuring Recovery in Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and Tinnitus Patients in a Mental Health Care Setting: Validation of the I.ROC

Abstract
This study was aimed at validating the Individual Recovery Outcomes Counter (I.ROC) for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and tinnitus patients in a mental health care setting. There is a need for an accessible instrument to monitor treatment effects in this population. The I.ROC measures recovery, seeing recovery as a process of experiencing a meaningful life, despite the limitations caused by illness or disability. A total of 84 adults referred to 2 specialist mental health centers for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and tinnitus adults in the Netherlands completed the Dutch version of I.ROC and 3 other instruments. A total of 25 patients refused or did not complete the instruments: 50% of patients using sign language and 18% of patients using spoken language. Participants completed the measures at intake and then every 3 months. In this sample I.ROC demonstrated good internal consistency and convergent validity. Sensitivity to change was good, especially over a period of 6 or 9 months. This study provides preliminary evidence that the I.ROC is a valid instrument measuring recovery for hard-of-hearing and tinnitus patients using spoken language. For deaf patients using sign language, specifically those with limited language skills in spoken and written Dutch, more research is needed.

Full article: https://academic.oup.com/jdsde/advance-article/doi/10.1093/deafed/enz043/5647301

I guess adjusting to a disability or a worsening of health or economic conditions of one's life takes time and it is harder if the previous standard of living was much better than the new one. Basically, the worse things get, personally, socially, financially, etc the harder to adapt.
 

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