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Goal Attainment Scale in tinnitus (GAS-T): treatment goal priorities by chronic tinnitus patients in a real-world setting

  • Otology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Standard treatment for tinnitus is cognitive behavioral therapy, although level of evidence of effectiveness is low. There is need for a Goal Attainment Scale to evaluate treatment effects based on patient satisfaction. Preliminary work in a clinical sample has identified six common personal treatment goals. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the preliminary identified goals are confirmed by a heterogeneous sample of people with bothersome tinnitus and to identify any other common personal goals with the intention to construct a closed-end Goal Attainment Scale for tinnitus for use in research of effectiveness of (new) tinnitus treatments.

Methods

Two consecutive polls were plotted in an online peer support group form a heterogeneous sample. First, members were asked to vote for preliminary identified goals and asked to formulate additional personal goals. Corresponding goals were grouped together. Goals that were acknowledged by at least 10% of respondents were used in the second poll in which respondents could vote for statements that they recognized themselves in.

Results

The first poll (N = 180) resulted in 15 personal treatment goals. Comparison resulted in five common goals, which were confirmed in the second poll (N = 238): to gain control, to improve well-being and sleep, to reduce effects on hearing and to understand tinnitus.

Conclusions

We expect that if a patient achieves personal goals, he will be likely to reduce healthcare consumption. Based on common personal goals, validity of treatment evaluations is increased. We present a closed-end Goal Attainment Scale in tinnitus.

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Funding

This study has not been funded.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Rijndam Rehabilitation Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Olav Wagenaar

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium

    Annick Gilles

  3. Department of Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

    Annick Gilles & Vincent Van Rompaey

  4. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium

    Vincent Van Rompaey

  5. Otorhinolaryngology, Haga Teaching Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Henk Blom

  6. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium

    Henk Blom

Authors
  1. Olav Wagenaar
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  2. Annick Gilles
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  3. Vincent Van Rompaey
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  4. Henk Blom
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olav Wagenaar.

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Conflict of interest

The authors disclose no competing interest.

Ethical approval

This study was not subject to the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (WMO) and, therefore, did not need to undergo a review by an accredited Medical Ethics Review Committee (METC). The research involves human participants, and all procedures performed in the study involving human participants were in accordance with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards (JAMA 2000;284:3043–3049). The handling of personal data conformed with the Medical Treatment Agreement Act (WBGO), although a formal treatment relation did not occur. We also complied with the Dutch Act on Implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (AVG).

Informed consent

All patients were provided with written information concerning the study and were informed to provide consent before their participation in the study by voluntary filling out the online questionnaire.

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Wagenaar, O., Gilles, A., Van Rompaey, V. et al. Goal Attainment Scale in tinnitus (GAS-T): treatment goal priorities by chronic tinnitus patients in a real-world setting. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 281, 693–700 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-023-08134-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-023-08134-2

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