title: Quality of life of Nepali patients with ear disease before and after corrective surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hearing impairment is a significant burden in the developing world. However, no suitable quality of life (QoL) measures exist for use in Nepal. We aimed to amend and translate the Glasgow Health Status Inventory (GHSI), assessing QoL at any given time, and the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI), assessing change in QoL following intervention, into Nepali and to assess the impact of ear disease and effect of surgery on QoL.
  
  
  METHODS
  The GHSI and GBI were translated into Nepali and independently verified. The GHSI was administered by interview to patients before surgery, and the GBI was administered 6 months after surgery. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used for hypothesis testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The GHSI was administered to 242 patients. In total, 205 had chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) without cholesteatoma and 37 had cholesteatoma. The mean GHSI score was 47.9. There was no significant difference in GHSI scores between patients with CSOM without cholesteatoma and those with cholesteatoma. The GBI was administered to 161 patients, 73 of whom had also been in the GHSI group. In total, 130 had CSOM without cholesteatoma, 31 had cholesteatoma. The mean GBI score was +38.4 with no significant difference between disease groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ear disease in Nepal is associated with reduced QoL, and surgical intervention is associated with improved QoL. There is no difference in QoL or benefit following surgery for CSOM between patients with or without cholesteatoma. There are few QoL measures suitable for the developing world. It is essential to invest in these measures to guide health interventions.
authors: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors: Edward John
authors: EJ
authors: Maile
authors: Britain-Nepal Otology Service, Nepalgunj, Nepal.
authors: Puran Bahadur
authors: PB
authors: Tharu
authors: ENT Department, Darlington Memorial Hospital, Darlington, UK.
authors: Hannah L K
authors: HL
authors: Blanchford
authors: Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Edmiston
authors: Britain-Nepal Otology Service, Gloucester, UK.
authors: Robin
authors: R
authors: Youngs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Calidad de vida; Nepal; Népal; Otite moyenne; Otitis Media; Otorhinolaryngologie; Otorrinolaringología; estatus sanitario; global health; health status; otitis media; otolaryngology; quality of life; qualité de vie; salud global; santé mondiale; état de santé