Annick Gilles1,2,3, Sarah Michiels4,1, Sara Demoen5,6,7, Laure Jacquemin1,2, Annick Timmermans4, Vincent Van Rompaey1,2, Olivier Vanderveken1,2, Hanne Vermeersch1, Iris Joossen1, Julie Van Eetvelde4,1, Winfried Schlee8, Wim Marneffe9, Janis Luyten9. 1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650, Edegem, Belgium. 2. Department of Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Antwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium. 3. Department of Human and Social Welfare, University College Ghent, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. 4. Rehabilitation Research Center, REVAL, faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium. 5. Rehabilitation Research Center, REVAL, faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium. sara.demoen@uhasselt.be. 6. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650, Edegem, Belgium. sara.demoen@uhasselt.be. 7. Department of Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Antwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium. sara.demoen@uhasselt.be. 8. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany. 9. Faculty of Business Economics, Hasselt University, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tinnitus is a highly prevalent symptom, affecting 10-15% of the adult population. Tinnitus influenced by alterations in somatosensory afference from the neck or jaw is referred to as somatic tinnitus (ST). ST is known to respond positively to physiotherapy treatment; however, it is challenging to motivate patients to systematically perform home exercises correctly, and the necessary tinnitus counselling is often lacking. The aim of this study is twofold, namely to investigate both the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a blended physiotherapy program for ST, including a smartphone application designed to increase exercise therapy compliance and provide tinnitus counselling. METHODS: This study is designed as a single-blind two-arm 1:1 randomised controlled trial (RCT). Adult patients diagnosed with ST, without psychiatric comorbidities and with experience in using a smartphone, will be recruited at the Ear Nose Throat (ENT) department of the Antwerp University Hospital (UZA). Patients will be randomised into two groups. The experimental group will receive the blended physiotherapy program comprising six in-clinic physiotherapy sessions over a period of 12 weeks (1x/2 weeks) and an exercise and counselling program provided by the smartphone application. The control group will receive the standard care program comprising twelve weekly in-clinic physiotherapy sessions. Each physiotherapy session has a duration of 30 min. The primary outcome measure is the change in Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) score. Additionally, a cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed from a societal perspective considering both direct and indirect costs. There will be follow-up assessments at one and 3 months after the final treatment session. DISCUSSION: Our study is the first to combine both tinnitus counselling and neck/jaw treatment provided by a digital application in a blended physiotherapy program. This, in order to empower ST patients to improve and better manage their own health and, possibly, reduce economic costs by alleviating the tinnitus burden that ST patients experience. The strengths of the planned RCT are the high-quality methodological design, the large sample size and the expertise of the involved multidisciplinary research team. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05245318 . Registered on 26 January 2022.
BACKGROUND: Tinnitus is a highly prevalent symptom, affecting 10-15% of the adult population. Tinnitus influenced by alterations in somatosensory afference from the neck or jaw is referred to as somatic tinnitus (ST). ST is known to respond positively to physiotherapy treatment; however, it is challenging to motivate patients to systematically perform home exercises correctly, and the necessary tinnitus counselling is often lacking. The aim of this study is twofold, namely to investigate both the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a blended physiotherapy program for ST, including a smartphone application designed to increase exercise therapy compliance and provide tinnitus counselling. METHODS: This study is designed as a single-blind two-arm 1:1 randomised controlled trial (RCT). Adult patients diagnosed with ST, without psychiatric comorbidities and with experience in using a smartphone, will be recruited at the Ear Nose Throat (ENT) department of the Antwerp University Hospital (UZA). Patients will be randomised into two groups. The experimental group will receive the blended physiotherapy program comprising six in-clinic physiotherapy sessions over a period of 12 weeks (1x/2 weeks) and an exercise and counselling program provided by the smartphone application. The control group will receive the standard care program comprising twelve weekly in-clinic physiotherapy sessions. Each physiotherapy session has a duration of 30 min. The primary outcome measure is the change in Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) score. Additionally, a cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed from a societal perspective considering both direct and indirect costs. There will be follow-up assessments at one and 3 months after the final treatment session. DISCUSSION: Our study is the first to combine both tinnitus counselling and neck/jaw treatment provided by a digital application in a blended physiotherapy program. This, in order to empower ST patients to improve and better manage their own health and, possibly, reduce economic costs by alleviating the tinnitus burden that ST patients experience. The strengths of the planned RCT are the high-quality methodological design, the large sample size and the expertise of the involved multidisciplinary research team. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05245318 . Registered on 26 January 2022.
Authors: Rilana F F Cima; Iris H Maes; Manuela A Joore; Dyon J W M Scheyen; Amr El Refaie; David M Baguley; Lucien J C Anteunis; Gerard J P van Breukelen; Johan W S Vlaeyen Journal: Lancet Date: 2012-05-26 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Annemarie van der Wal; Paul Van de Heyning; Annick Gilles; Laure Jacquemin; Vedat Topsakal; Vincent Van Rompaey; Marc Braem; Corine Mirjam Visscher; Steven Truijen; Sarah Michiels; Willem De Hertogh Journal: Front Neurosci Date: 2020-09-16 Impact factor: 4.677
Authors: Sarah Michiels; Sebastiaan Naessens; Paul Van de Heyning; Marc Braem; Corine M Visscher; Annick Gilles; Willem De Hertogh Journal: Front Neurosci Date: 2016-11-29 Impact factor: 4.677