Expectations for Tinnitus Treatment and Outcomes: A Survey Study of Audiologists and Patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (04) ◽  
pp. 313-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima T. Husain ◽  
Phillip E. Gander ◽  
Jaclyn N. Jansen ◽  
Sa Shen
Keyword(s):  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Treatment Success ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Current State ◽  
Tinnitus Treatment ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Improve Patient ◽  
Scale Format

AbstractRoughly 10–15% of the general population is affected by tinnitus and this percentage is estimated to rise in future. Because there is currently no cure for tinnitus, treatment is limited and is primarily achieved through management of symptoms and counseling.This study compared audiologists’ and patients’ responses to related survey questions about their expectations regarding tinnitus treatment. Two separate surveys were created, one for patients with tinnitus, and one for practicing audiologists who may treat such patients. The surveys included several related questions, such that comparison of the two could reveal where patients’ and audiologists’ expectations for tinnitus care were in agreement and areas in which they differed.The surveys for audiologists and adults with tinnitus were 31- and 38-item questionnaires, respectively. Both surveys comprised demographic questions followed by several tinnitus-related questions in either multiple-choice or Likert-scale format.We received 230 completed Patient Surveys and 68 completed Audiologist Surveys.All survey recruitment was completed online. Responses were collected via the Survey Monkey web tool (http://www.surveymonkey.com/). Responses were analyzed within and between surveys and grouped into topical categories (assessment, counseling, current available tinnitus information, satisfaction and expectations, improving tinnitus management). For data within each survey, descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were used. For selected comparisons between surveys, cross-tabulations were used. Hierarchical regression modeling was conducted to further explore (1) the perceived effectiveness of treatment received, and (2) how each group defined treatment success.Differences were noted between the two groups’ responses to the question on the definition of treatment success; audiologists reported decreased awareness (77%), stress/anxiety relief (63%), and increased knowledge of tinnitus (63%) most commonly, whereas patients reported reduction of tinnitus loudness (63%) and complete elimination of tinnitus (57%) most often. The topic of greatest agreement was the desire for more information on tinnitus; 62% of patients felt more information from their healthcare provider would be the most important factor for improved tinnitus management, and 67% of audiologists reported currently having “some access” or less to appropriate resources for tinnitus treatment. Modeling results for effective tinnitus management and definitions of treatment success highlighted the importance of resource access and information sharing for both audiologists and patients.Patients and audiologists differed in terms of their expectations for successful treatment, with the patients focusing on perceptual factors and the audiologists on the reaction to the sound. Patient satisfaction with tinnitus treatment may be improved through access to more information, specifically, more information about current tinnitus treatment options and how these focus on the patient’s reaction to the tinnitus rather than the percept itself. Providing credible tinnitus information resources to audiologists, and focusing resources on training a small number of tinnitus specialist audiologists could greatly improve patient satisfaction with the current state of tinnitus palliative care.

scholarly journals Immunotherapy in gastroesophageal cancers: Current state and future directions

2020 ◽  
pp. 107815522096353
Author(s):  
Hira Shaikh ◽  
Amir Kamran ◽  
Dulabh K Monga
Keyword(s):  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Molecular Targeted Therapy ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Cell Cycle Checkpoints ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Alternative Strategies ◽  
Current State ◽  
Dismal Prognosis ◽  
The World ◽  
Improve Patient

While gastroesophageal (GE) cancers are one of the most common cancers worldwide, unfortunately, the mortality remains high. Commonly used treatment options include surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and molecular targeted therapy, which improve survival only minimally; thus, affirming the dire need for exploring alternative strategies to improve patient outcomes. Immunotherapy, which has revolutionized the world of oncology, has somewhat lagged behind in GE malignancies. Tumor-associated microenvironment and regulatory T cells, alongside cell cycle checkpoints, have been proposed by various studies as the mediators of carcinogenesis in GE cancers. Thus, inhibition of each of these could serve as a possible target of treatment. While the approval of pembrolizumab has provided some hope, it is not enough to override the dismal prognosis that this disease confers. Herein, we discuss the prospects of immunotherapy in this variety of cancer.

Pelvic organ prolapse management

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-85
Author(s):  
K Fleischer ◽  
G Thiagamoorthy
Keyword(s):  
Pelvic Organ Prolapse ◽  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Treatment Success ◽  
Pelvic Organ ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Pelvic Organs ◽  
Current State ◽  
Mesh Surgery ◽  
The Uk

Pelvic organ prolapse describes the loss of support and subsequent descent of pelvic organs into the vagina. It is common, affecting up to 50% of parous women, and can be accompanied by a number of burdening symptoms. Prolapse has been thrown into the spotlight secondary to mesh-related complications. There are a number of effective treatment options to consider when managing pelvic organ prolapse and most do not require mesh. Patients’ choice, comorbidities and likelihood of treatment success should be considered when making decisions about their care. Vaginal mesh surgery is currently on hold in the UK and even prior to this there has been a reduction both in the number of all prolapse surgeries and the number of women seeking surgery to manage their symptoms. This article reviews the current evidence for the management of pelvic organ prolapse, providing an update on the current state of mesh in prolapse surgery and summarises the key evidence points derived from the literature.

scholarly journals Refining Adjuvant Therapy for Endometrial Cancer: New Standards and Perspectives

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 845
Author(s):  
Alessandra Giustozzi ◽  
Vanda Salutari ◽  
Elena Giudice ◽  
Lucia Musacchio ◽  
Caterina Ricci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endometrial Carcinoma ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Molecular Features ◽  
Improve Patient Management ◽  
Patient Prognosis ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Improve Patient

Endometrial carcinoma is the most frequent cancer of the reproductive female organs. Most endometrial cancers are diagnosed at early stage (75%). Treatment options depend on pathogenetic, histopathologic and clinical characteristic at the diagnosis. To improve patient management in the near future, recent research has focused on new molecular features; evidence has shown that these give a better definition of patient prognosis and can help in tailoring adjuvant treatments by identifying specific subgroups of patients whose tumors may benefit from specific therapeutic approaches. In this review, we will focus on current knowledge of adjuvant treatment of endometrial carcinoma, using a prognostic-risk group stratification based on pathogenetic, clinical and molecular features, and will take a look at the ongoing trials that will further change the therapeutic approach in coming years.

Biomarkers of Acromegaly and Growth Hormone Action

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 1231-1245
Author(s):  
Filippo Maffezzoni ◽  
Teresa Porcelli ◽  
Andrea Delbarba ◽  
Letizia Pezzaioli ◽  
Carlo Cappelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Biological Markers ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Hormone Deficiency ◽  
Surrogate Outcomes ◽  
Current State ◽  
Growth Hormone Action ◽  
Igf I ◽  
Definition Of

: Biological markers (biomarkers) play a key role in drug development, regulatory approval and clinical care of patients and are linked to clinical and surrogate outcomes. : Both acromegaly and Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) are pathological conditions related to important comorbidities that, in addition to having stringent diagnostic criteria, require valid markers for the definition of treatment, treatment monitoring and follow-up. GH and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) are the main biomarkers of GH action in children and adults while, in acromegaly, both GH and IGF-I are established biomarkers of disease activity. : However, although GH and IGF-I are widely validated biomarkers of GHD and acromegaly, their role is not completely exhaustive or suitable for clinical classification and follow-up. Therefore, new biological markers for acromegaly and GH replacement therapy are strongly needed. : The aim of this paper is to review and summarize the current state in the field pointing out new potential biomarkers for acromegaly and GH use/abuse.

Selected Issues in Didactics of Technical Subjects: Didactic Approaches to Defining and Structuring Technical Subjects As a Scientific and Academic Discipline

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-44
Author(s):  
Pavel Pecina ◽  
Ivo Svoboda
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Training ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Technical Education ◽  
Academic Discipline ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Vocational Schools ◽  
Present Survey ◽  
Current State

The present survey study aims to present the results of the authors’ work and own research in the area of ​​defining and structuring didactic of technical courses with a focus on secondary technical education. The overall objective is to contribute to the issue of didactics of technical courses in the area. After defining the problem we will deal with the current state of the problem, the wider context of the issue and the concept of didactics of technical courses while implying of our own conclusions and opinions. The result can serve to specialized didacticians of technical and science subjects in this area as inspiration for their work. However, it can also serve to specialized didacticians of other subjects as well as to students of teacher training for vocational and practical subjects in secondary vocational schools. A critical analysis of resources and studies in this area has brought us to our own conclusions in the area of defining this specialized didactics, and we present them in the study.

What Is A Chemical Element?

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Periodic Table ◽  
Chemical Element ◽  
Abstract Concept ◽  
International Union ◽  
Applied Chemistry ◽  
Educational Levels ◽  
Unique Position ◽  
Current State ◽  
Element Carbon ◽  
Definition Of

The term “element” is typically used in two distinct senses. First it is taken to mean isolated simple substances such as the green gas chlorine or the yellow solid sulphur. In some languages, including English, it is also used to denote an underlying abstract concept that subsumes simple substances but possesses no properties as such. The allotropes and isotopes of carbon, for example, all represent elements in the sense of simple substances. However, the unique position for the element carbon in the periodic table refers to the abstract sense of “element.” The dual definition of elements proposed by the International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry contrasts an abstract meaning and an operational one. Nevertheless, the philosophical aspects of this notion are not fully captured by the IUPAC definition, despite the fact that they were crucial for the construction of the periodic table. This pivotal chemical notion remains ambiguous and such ambiguity raises problems at the epistemic, logical, and educational levels. These aspects are discussed throughout the book, from different perspectives. This collective book provides an overview of the current state of the debate on the notion of chemical element. Its authors are historians of chemistry, philosophers of chemistry, and chemists with epistemological and educational concerns.

Minority Presidents in a Coalitional World

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Chaisty ◽  
Nic Cheeseman ◽  
Timothy J. Power
Keyword(s):  
Coalition Formation ◽  
Cost Minimization ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
System Level ◽  
Current State ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Definition Of

This chapter summarizes the main parameters of coalitional presidentialism and the key concepts, definitions, explanatory frameworks, indicators, and propositions. It summarizes our understanding of coalitional presidentialism; the distinction between coalition formation and maintenance; the definition of coalitions; the multidimensional understanding of coalition management (the ‘presidential toolbox’); and an analytical framework that emphasizes the motivation of presidents to achieve cost minimization under constraints determined by system-level, coalition-level, and conjunctural factors. It also summarizes our main empirical findings: (1) the characteristics of presidential tools, (2) the substantive patterns of their deployment, (3) the factors that shape the costs of using these tools, (4) the actual (observed) costs of using them, and (5) the potential for imperfect substitutability of these tools. Finally, it concludes with some reflections on the current state of the research on comparative presidentialism.

scholarly journals Use of Complementary and Alternative Medical Services by HMO Members, 1995-1996

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn P. Whitlock
Keyword(s):  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Improve Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Kaiser Permanente ◽  
Reported Health ◽  
Self Reported Health Status ◽  
Improve Patient ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

We investigated HMO members' use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers outside the HMO in 1995-1996. A random 2% survey of Kaiser Permanente Northwest members addressed HMO service satisfaction, self-reported health status and behaviors, and HMO utilization. Among respondents, 15.7% (n = 380) used CAM providers (chiropractors, naturopaths, acupuncturists, others) in the prior 12 months, while 35% were ever users. Multivariate analysis found that those more likely to consult CAM providers were females, more educated, and more dissatisfied with the HMO. These results suggest that HMOs may wish to focus efforts to improve patient satisfaction among CAM service users.

scholarly journals Epilepsy in Mitochondrial Diseases—Current State of Knowledge on Aetiology and Treatment

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 532
Author(s):  
Dorota Wesół-Kucharska ◽  
Dariusz Rokicki ◽  
Aleksandra Jezela-Stanek
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Phosphorylation ◽  
Mitochondrial Dysfunction ◽  
Mitochondrial Disease ◽  
Clinical Picture ◽  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Mitochondrial Diseases ◽  
Energy Deficit ◽  
Atp Production ◽  
Current State

Mitochondrial diseases are a heterogeneous group of diseases resulting from energy deficit and reduced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production due to impaired oxidative phosphorylation. The manifestation of mitochondrial disease is usually multi-organ. Epilepsy is one of the most common manifestations of diseases resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction, especially in children. The onset of epilepsy is associated with poor prognosis, while its treatment is very challenging, which further adversely affects the course of these disorders. Fortunately, our knowledge of mitochondrial diseases is still growing, which gives hope for patients to improve their condition in the future. The paper presents the pathophysiology, clinical picture and treatment options for epilepsy in patients with mitochondrial disease.

WoCoVA consensus on the clinical use of in-line filtration during intravenous infusions: Current evidence and recommendations for future research

2021 ◽  
pp. 112972982198916
Author(s):  
Ton Van Boxtel ◽  
Mauro Pittiruti ◽  
Annemarie Arkema ◽  
Patrick Ball ◽  
Giovanni Barone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Potential Benefit ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Venous Access ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Global Awareness ◽  
Current State ◽  
Intravenous Infusions ◽  
Proper Definition ◽  
Definition Of

The need for filtering intravenous infusions has long been recognized in the field of venous access, though hard scientific evidence about the actual indications for in-line filters has been scarce. In the last few years, several papers and a few clinical studies have raised again this issue, suggesting that the time has come for a proper definition of the type of filtration, of its potential benefit, and of its proper indications in clinical practice. The WoCoVA Foundation, whose goal is to increase the global awareness on the risk of intravenous access and on patients’ safety, developed the project of a consensus on intravenous filtration. A panel of experts in different aspects of intravenous infusion was chosen to express the current state of knowledge about filtration and to indicate the direction of future research in this field. The present document reports the final conclusions of the panel.

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