Responsiveness of the 7-item Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:Baro-challenge-induced Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction is defined as the presence of aural discomfort, popping, or pain, which only arises in case of ambient pressure changes, without abnormalities on otoscopy or tympanometry. Our primary aim was to determine the discriminative power of the 7-item Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire (ETDQ-7) in patients with baro-challenge-induced ET dysfunction in comparison with that in healthy controls. The secondary aim was to determine the responsiveness of ETDQ-7 in patients with baro-challenge-induced obstructive ET dysfunction who underwent balloon dilation tuboplasty (BDET). MATERIALS and METHODS:The accuracy of the diagnostic test was determined on the basis of the area under the curve in receiver-operating curve (ROC) analysis. Responsiveness to change of ETDQ-7 was assessed by exploring preoperative and postoperative ETDQ-7 scores using Cohen's kappa coefficient. Patients were asked whether their complaints improved, remained stable, or deteriorated after BDET. The findings of subjective evaluation were then compared with the difference in the ETDQ-7 score after BDET. RESULTS:In the baro-challenge-induced ET dysfunction group, the median preoperative total ETDQ-7 score was 26, decreasing to 16 after BDET. ROC analysis demonstrated excellent discriminative power for the baro-challenge-induced ET dysfunction group. Cohen's kappa coefficient was 0.633, indicating that there was substantial agreement between the ETDQ-7 values before and after BDET.CONCLUSION: ETDQ-7 can discriminate between patients with baro-challenge-induced ET dysfunction and healthy controls and can therefore be useful in its diagnosis. Furthermore the ETDQ-7 is responsive to change in patients with baro-challenge-induced ET dysfunction who have undergone BDET, although a larger sample size is required to confirm these preliminary findings.

Evaluation of the Turkish version of the Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire

“…Duration of symptoms, timing of worsening symptoms with associated diseases such as rhinosinusitis or reflux should be assessed with the medical history. Roeyen et al [17] assessed patients with baro-challengeinduced ETD and healthy controls using the ETDQ-7. The authors reported that ETQD-7 was useful in the diagnosis of baro-challengeinduced ETD dysfunction.…”

Presentation and eustachian tube function test results in children evaluated at a specialty clinic

“…History and subjective symptoms with a quantifying instrument (Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire [ETDQ]-7) 29 was not intended for diagnosis and it has been misused for that purpose. 30 Weakness of the ETDQ-7 in differentiating different types of ETD was pointed out in recent publications. 31,32 Any questionnaire based on patient symptoms is expected to have limited reliability in children, especially when parents are the responders.…”

“…However, development of solutions and their use for treatment preceded the development of a clear definition and testing criteria for ETD. History and subjective symptoms with a quantifying instrument (Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire [ETDQ]‐7) was not intended for diagnosis and it has been misused for that purpose . Weakness of the ETDQ‐7 in differentiating different types of ETD was pointed out in recent publications .…”

Stellenwert der Tubendilatation bei Mittelohradhäsivprozess

“…In der Literatur wird der Erfolg der Tubendilatation in der Mehrzahl mit > 70 % angegeben [6,7,9]. Die Erfolgsparameter sind jedoch nicht einheitlich und reichen von der subjektiven Einschätzung der Patientenzufriedenheit über die Durchführbarkeit des SVT-Tests, die Auswertung von Tympanogrammen [10] und Messung anhand unterschiedlicher Tubenscores bis hin zur Evaluation anhand von Fragebögen wie des "Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionaire" (ETDQ7) [11,12]. Hinzu kommt, dass die Größe der untersuchten Patientenkollektive einer erheblichen Schwankungsbreite unterliegt.…”