Burden of acute otitis media on Canadian families.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the burden of acute otitis media (AOM) on Canadian families.


METHODS
Telephone survey using random-digit dialing.


METHODS
All Canadian provinces between May and June 2008.


METHODS
Caregivers of 1 or more children aged 6 months to 5 years.


METHODS
Caregivers' reports on the number of AOM episodes experienced by the child in the past 12 months, as well as disease characteristics, health services and medication use, time spent on medical consultations (including travel), and time taken off from work to care for the sick children.


RESULTS
A total of 502 eligible caregivers were recruited, 161 (32%) of whom reported at least 1 AOM episode for their children and 42 (8%) of whom reported 3 or more episodes during the past 12 months. Most children (94%, 151 of 161) visited with health professionals during their most recent AOM episodes. The average time required for medical examination was 3.1 hours in an emergency department and 1.8 hours in an outpatient clinic. Overall, 93% of episodes resulted in antibiotics use. A substantial proportion of caregivers (38%) missed work during this time; the average time taken off work was 15.9 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
In Canada, episodes of AOM are still associated with substantial use of health services and indirect costs to the caregivers.
Quebec National Institute of Public Health, Quebec, QC. eve.dube@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Eve
E
Dubé
Philippe
P
De Wals
Vladimir
V
Gilca
Nicole
N
Boulianne
Manale
M
Ouakki
France
F
Lavoie
Richard
R
Bradet
D000041:Absenteeism; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D017050:Episode of Care; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014850:Waiting Lists
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D055553:Prescription Drugs
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