Outcome Measurement in Adult Auditory Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review of Measures Used in Randomized Controlled Trials.
OBJECTIVE
This review documented the range and nature of reported outcome measures in the context of adult auditory rehabilitative research.


METHODS
A scoping review conducted as a part of the development of a systematic review of the effect of interventions to improve hearing aid use. The authors searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; PubMed; EMBASE; CINAHL; Web of Science; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; ICTRP; and additional sources for published and unpublished randomized control trials. The date of the search was November 6, 2013. Outcomes were grouped using a framework suggested by the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care group.


RESULTS
Patient outcomes included adherence to hearing aid use, daily hours of aid use, hearing handicap, hearing aid benefit, quality of life, and communication and psychological outcome. Satisfaction and speech perception were frequent secondary outcomes. There was diversity in measures used to report patient outcomes. Outcome categories other than patient health status and behavior were rarely reported. The timing of outcome measurement was often short term (<12 weeks), with a relative lack of evidence on long-term outcomes (>1 year).


CONCLUSIONS
This review has highlighted considerable diversity in patient-reported outcome measurements in randomized control trials in the context of adult auditory rehabilitation. In addition, there are gaps in the literature with respect to measurement of other outcome types of potential interest to stakeholders, including policymakers and commissioners. Long-term outcome assessment is rare.
1Department of Healthcare Management and Policy, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom; 2Hearing and Balance Centre, Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom; and 3Windsor Audiology Centre, Princess Margaret Hospital, Windsor, United Kingdom.
Fiona
F
Barker
Emma
E
MacKenzie
Lynette
L
Elliott
Simon
S
de Lusignan
D000328:Adult; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment; D006310:Hearing Aids; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic