title: Cost of care for subjective tinnitus in relation to patient satisfaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A consistent management algorithm for subjective tinnitus remains to be elucidated. Chronic tinnitus yields approximately US$2110 in annual health care costs per patient. However, it is unclear whether spending more in the management of tinnitus equates with greater patient satisfaction. Thus, the aim of this study is to correlate patient satisfaction with patient demographics, provider recommendations, and total health care-related expenditures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review and a patient satisfaction questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  All data were collected from a large Midwestern hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were included who presented to the tinnitus clinic during the year 2011 and were between the ages of 18 and 89 years. They were excluded with diagnoses of Ménière's disease, pulsatile tinnitus, acoustic neuromas, or autoimmune inner ear diseases. The retrospective data and satisfaction surveys were entered by 3 of the authors. Responses were based on Likert scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 692 patients included, 230 completed and returned the satisfaction questionnaire (33.2% response rate), yielding an overall mean of $662.60 charges. The frequency of intervention recommendations per patients ranged from 0 to 13, with a median of 4. Spearman's correlations did not result in significant correlations between patient satisfaction and number of clinic visits (P=.499) or associated charges (P=.453).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given that the variability among provider recommendations, the high overall mean of tinnitus-related charges, and patient satisfaction was not related to costs, further research is needed examining patient preference in the treatment of tinnitus.
authors: Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA ergoldst@med.wayne.edu.
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Goldstein
authors: Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors: Chuan-Xing
authors: CX
authors: Ho
authors: Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors: Rania
authors: R
authors: Hanna
authors: Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors: Clara
authors: C
authors: Elinger
authors: Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors: Kathleen L
authors: KL
authors: Yaremchuk
authors: Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors: Michael D
authors: MD
authors: Seidman
authors: Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA Transplant Institute and Behavioral Health Services (dual appointments), Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors: Michelle T
authors: MT
authors: Jesse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000639:trends*; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ear; expenditures; health care cost; nose; otolaryngology; patient satisfaction; throat; tinnitus