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Telehealth in treating tinnitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2023

A Habeeb Open the ORCID record for A Habeeb [Opens in a new window] ,
M Hemaya ,
M Hemaya Open the ORCID record for M Hemaya [Opens in a new window]  and
R Kanegaonkar
A Habeeb*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Foundation Trust, Stevenage, England, UK
M Hemaya
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Foundation Trust, Stevenage, England, UK
M Hemaya
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Foundation Trust, Stevenage, England, UK
R Kanegaonkar
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
*
Corresponding author: Amir Habeeb; Email: amirhabeeb@hotmail.co.uk
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Abstract

Objective

Treatment for tinnitus focuses on supportive therapies. Long waiting times in the National Health Service encourage telemedicine options as an alternative. This study aimed to review the literature on telemedicine in the management of tinnitus and analyse its impact on the burden of tinnitus, long-term, anxiety, depression, insomnia and quality of life.

Method

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Scopus and Web of Science were searched. English randomised, controlled trials with adult participants suffering from tinnitus were included. A random effects model looking at standardised mean differences between intervention and control groups was utilised.

Results

Eleven randomised, controlled trials were included. Nine studies looked at internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy. A z-value of 9.87 (p < 0.00001; I2 = 21 per cent) showed telemedicine approaches may be better at reducing tinnitus burden compared with passive controls.

Conclusion

Telemedicine options have multiple benefits, but more research will be needed to conclusively say they are better than alternatives.

Keywords

Tinnitustherapeuticstelemedicineotolaryngologycognitive behavioural therapysmartphonesystematic reviewmeta-analysis

Information

Type
Review Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 137 , Issue 11 , November 2023 , pp. 1182 - 1192
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

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Footnotes

Amir Habeeb takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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