The Utility of the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT) as a Treatment Outcome Measure in Nonsinogenic Facial Pain Syndrome.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to assess the strength of correlation between the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT) subdomains to determine which bore the greatest disease burden so that it could be used as a suitable measure of clinical response.


METHODS
Prospective clinical audit of patients attending the Liverpool Multi-Disciplinary Facial Pain Clinic. The Brief Pain Inventory-Facial (BPI-F) was used as a comparator and surrogate measure of quality of life.


RESULTS
Fifty patients (38 female) were reviewed, of whom 66% had midfacial segment pain. The total SNOT score was highly correlated with the BPI-F. Both the sleep function and psychological issues were the most highly correlated SNOT subdomains with the BPI-F, followed by ear-facial symptoms. The rhinologic symptom subdomain had a weak correlation with the BPI-F. The total SNOT score was most significantly correlated with the sleep function and psychological issues subdomains.


CONCLUSIONS
This study supports the utility of the SNOT questionnaire as a measure of clinical outcome for nonsinogenic facial pain. The total SNOT score is highly correlated with the BPI-F, which has been used as a surrogate measure of quality of life. In addition, the sleep function and psychological issues subdomains are suitable variables to measure response to treatment.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, UK lcheel@doctors.org.uk.
Samuel C
SC
Leong
Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Management, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
Hoo K
HK
Tsang
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
Gyorgy
G
Banhegyi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005156:Facial Neuralgia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
facial; outcome; pain; sinonasal; sinus; tension headache