Suggestions for shaping tinnitus service provision in Western Europe: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic
Corresponding Author
Eldré W. Beukes
Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA
Department of Vision and Hearing Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
Correspondence
Eldré W. Beukes, Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorMatheus P. C. G. Lourenco
Experimental Health Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Research Group Health Psychology, KU Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorLana Biot
Faculty of Biomedical, Pharmaceuticals and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorGerhard Andersson
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorViktor Kaldo
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorVinaya Manchaiah
Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA
Department of Speech and Hearing, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India
Search for more papers by this authorLaure Jacquemin
Department of Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Eldré W. Beukes
Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA
Department of Vision and Hearing Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
Correspondence
Eldré W. Beukes, Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorMatheus P. C. G. Lourenco
Experimental Health Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Research Group Health Psychology, KU Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorLana Biot
Faculty of Biomedical, Pharmaceuticals and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorGerhard Andersson
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorViktor Kaldo
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorVinaya Manchaiah
Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA
Department of Speech and Hearing, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India
Search for more papers by this authorLaure Jacquemin
Department of Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Background
Tinnitus severity has been exacerbated because of the COVID-19 pandemic and those with tinnitus require additional support. Such support should be informed by patient preferences and needs. The objective of this study was to gather information from individuals with tinnitus living in Europe to inform stakeholders of the (a) support they needed in relation to changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and (b) suggestions regarding tinnitus care for the future.
Methods
A cross-sectional mixed method study design was used using closed and open-ended questions via an online survey. Data were gathered from 710 adults experiencing tinnitus in Western Europe, with the majority living in The Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis and descriptive statistics.
Results
Those with tinnitus indicated the following support needs during the pandemic (a) support for tinnitus, (b) support for hearing-related difficulties, (c) social support and (d) pandemic-related support. Five directions for future tinnitus care were provided, namely, (a) need for understanding professional support and access to multidisciplinary experts, (b) greater range of therapies and resources, (c) access to more information about tinnitus, (d) prioritising tinnitus research and (e) more support for hearing protection and hearing loss prevention.
Conclusions
The findings point to the need for accessible (remote), patient-centred, suitable and evidence-based tinnitus care. Insights from the current study can be used by various stakeholders including clinical practitioners and tinnitus support services to ensure those with tinnitus have access to the help and support required in order to reduce service provision insufficiencies.
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