title: Quality of life of patients with otitis media and caregivers: a multicenter study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the quality of life of otitis media (OM) patients and their caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted at 11 otolaryngology and five pediatric clinics in the United States between July 1998 and August 1999. All patients, regardless of primary complaint, completed a demographic survey, OM-6 survey, and Child Health Questionaire-PF28 survey by proxy. Physicians completed an International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision diagnosis sheet for each patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis, including Spearman rank correlation, was restricted to study patients with active OM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,001 patients with active OM were identified: 503 OM with effusion, 267 acute OM, and 258 recurrent acute OM. Median patient age was 2 years (interquartile range, 1-5). Mean caretaker age was 32.6 years (standard deviation, 7.4). There was moderate correlation between OM frequency and physical suffering (r = 0.50; P < .001) and caregiver concerns (r = 0.45; P < .001). Moderate correlation was found between percentage of time with fluid in the ears and caregiver concerns (r = 0.46; P < .001) and physical suffering (r = 0.43; P < .001). OM patients over 5 years of age scored significantly worse than healthy children ages 5 to 7 years in almost all areas of global health, including physical functioning and impact on caretaker's personal time and emotions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The global quality of life of patients with OM over 5 years of age is worse than that of healthy children of similar age. Physical suffering and caregiver concerns are associated with frequent OM or effusion duration. Hopefully, these results will direct the focus of future outcomes studies.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, the Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Witsell
authors.forename: Rowena J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dolor
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stinnett
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hannley
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000523:psychology*; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors