title: The Otology Data Collection project: report from the CHEER network.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe and communicate data collected in the CHEER (Creating Healthcare Excellence through Education and Research) infrastructure proof-of-concept study to facilitate understanding of the potential capabilities of practice-based research networks and to present pilot data for development of future research initiatives.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study of CHEER infrastructure operational capacity using a convenience sample of all patients presenting to the practices with tinnitus, dizziness, or a combination of these symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CHEER network of community and academic practice sites.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data collection exercise collected demographic, clinical, treatment, and health-related quality-of-life surveys on tinnitus, dizziness, and migraine disorders. Descriptive analysis of the data is presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the sites in the CHEER network, 73% (16/22) successfully enrolled subjects; a total of 1532 patients were enrolled in 8 months. Tinnitus alone, dizziness alone, and both occurred in 28%, 34%, and 29%, respectively. Patients complaining of tinnitus and dizziness had lower quality of life than those sufferers with 1 disorder. Migraine was associated with 27% of patients. The most frequent diagnoses for patients with tinnitus and dizziness were Ménière disease (34%), vertiginous migraine (18%), and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (16%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Descriptive data on patients with common disorders can be rapidly collected within the framework of a practice-based research network. The data in this study provide valuable pilot information on the targeted disorders, providing a baseline for development of future epidemiological data and clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. david.witsell@duke.edu
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Witsell
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.forename: Debara L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Tucci
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Telian
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Roland
authors.forename: Anh T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Nguyen-Huynh
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schulz
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003625:Data Collection; D004244:Dizziness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017146:Models, Organizational; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000453:epidemiology*