The Cooperative Outcomes Group for ENT: a multicenter prospective cohort study on the outcomes of tympanostomy tubes for children with otitis media.
OBJECTIVE
Outcomes for patients with otitis media were assessed in this prospective, multicenter study.


METHODS
Thirty-one otolaryngologists enrolled 272 pediatric patients with otitis media; caregivers completed surveys at 3-month intervals, and clinical and treatment data was also collected. The Otitis Media 6 (OM-6) was the primary outcome measure.


RESULTS
One hundred seventy-seven patients (mean age 2.0 years) completed 3-month follow-up. One hundred thirty-seven patients underwent tympanostomy tube placement. Large improvements in disease-specific quality of life (QOL) were seen up to 9 months of follow-up. Baseline OM-6 score was the best predictor of clinical success in regression modeling.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients referred to an otolaryngologist for treatment of otitis media see large improvements in disease-specific QOL regardless of treatment rendered.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrates the feasibility of multicenter outcomes studies and confirms appropriate triage of patients with otitis media into surgical versus medical interventions.


METHODS
C.
Witsell
David L
DL
Duke University Medical Center, Divison of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center, NC 27710, USA. witse001@mc.duke.edu
Stewart
Michael G
MG
Monsell
Edwin M
EM
Hadley
James A
JA
Terrell
Jeffrey E
JE
Yueh
Bevan
B
Rosenfeld
Richard M
RM
Hannley
Maureen T
MT
Holzer
Susan Sedory
SS
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome