The development of a decision aid for tinnitus

Abstract

Objective: To develop a decision aid for tinnitus care that would meet international consensus for decision aid quality.

Design: A mixed methods design that included qualitative in-depth interviews, literature review, focus groups, user testing and readability checking.

Study sample: Patients and clinicians who have clinical experience of tinnitus.

Results: A decision aid for tinnitus care was developed. This incorporates key evidence of efficacy for the most frequently used tinnitus care options, together with information derived from patient priorities when deciding which choice to make.

Conclusion: The decision aid has potential to enable shared decision making between clinicians and patients in audiology. The decision aid meets consensus standards.

Keywords: Tinnitus; assistive technology; instrumentation; patient centred care; psycho-social/emotional; shared decision making.