Patients with ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions and their families, researchers and healthcare professionals have been working together to identify key areas needing more research.
The UCL evidENT team carried out a wide consultation using surveys and focus groups. Research ideas were prioritised by representatives from all groups involved in the care of patients with ENT conditions, including patients and members of the public.
The findings have been used to develop an ENT, Hearing and Balance agenda that will guide research for the next 10 years.
The agenda focuses on patient-centred research aimed at producing sustainable, high value health care. For example people with dizziness or balance problems told researchers it was important there is more research into self-management.
Important other areas for research include hearing loss and tinnitus – patients and professionals identified the need to improve hearing aids and develop and test new treatments for these conditions.
The findings are part of the GENERATE initiative which was set up to address the lack of evidence for the benefits of many treatments and care for patients with ENT, Hearing and Balance conditions, and to develop input from non-researchers into research questions in this area.
The research agenda is available online here.
