Defining Symptom Concepts in Chronic Subjective Tinnitus: Web-Based Discussion Forum Study

Area of Science:

• Medical research methodology
• Audiology and otolaryngology
• Health outcomes research

Background:

• Clinical trials require standardized outcome domains for tinnitus research.
• A consensus-based minimum standard recommends core outcome domains for comparability and meta-analysis.
• Operationalizing abstract concepts into measurable constructs is crucial for instrument selection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To refine and operationalize definitions for five core tinnitus outcome domains: intrusiveness, sense of control, acceptance, concentration, and ability to ignore.
• To move from abstract concepts to measurable health-related constructs for tinnitus assessment.
• To facilitate the identification of suitable measurement instruments for tinnitus clinical trials.

Main Methods:

• Conducted five online focus group-style semistructured discussions with 148 tinnitus experts.
• Participants included patients, healthcare professionals, researchers, industry representatives, and funders.
• Discussions were web-based, open for two weeks, and concluded with a consensus vote.

Main Results:

• Revised plain language definitions for all five outcome domains were generated.
• Consensus (≥70%) was achieved for four domains; tinnitus intrusiveness definition required broader scope.
• Thematic analysis provided insights into expert interpretations, operationalizing each domain as a measurable construct.

Conclusions:

• Web-based discussions enhanced understanding of debated health concepts, aiding core outcome set development.
• The operationalized definitions are sufficient for selecting appropriate measurement instruments.
• Web-based peer discussion forums are effective for defining health concepts in research.