Survey of tinnitus care in VHA and DOD (Boudin-George et al., 2024)
Purpose: In 2021, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Department of Defense (DOD) Tinnitus Working Group conducted a survey of DOD and VHA clinicians to evaluate clinical services provided for tinnitus.
Method: The online survey included a mix of multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Respondents included VHA and DOD health care providers in audiology, otolaryngology, mental health, and primary care, as well as DOD hearing conservation technicians. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyze the data.
Results: A total of 669 providers responded to this combined survey. Results indicated that compared to DOD and VHA providers in other fields, audiologists tended to be more confident and more aware of their role in tinnitus management. In terms of confidence and scope of practice, DOD mental health care providers were the group least familiar with tinnitus care. Other results explored herein include barriers to tinnitus care, facilitators for progressive tinnitus management programs, interventions and patient materials offered, new patient materials wanted, and respondents’ preferred information sources and training methods.
Conclusion: Survey results indicated that more directed education and support are needed to increase DOD and VHA clinicians’ awareness of the need for tinnitus services and their roles in providing that care.
Supplemental Material S1. 2014 survey results as presented at the 2015 Joint Defense Veterans Audiology Conference.
Supplemental Material S2. Audiology survey.
Supplemental Material S3. Hearing conservation technician survey.
Supplemental Material S4. ENT survey.
Supplemental Material S5. Primary care survey.
Supplemental Material S6. Mental health survey.
Supplemental Material S7. Respondents’ clinical specialties and roles.
Supplemental Material S8. Training or support types of interest by specialty and system.
Supplemental Material S9. Referral patterns in the DOD and VHA by specialty.
Supplemental Material S10. Use of existing tinnitus materials in the DOD and VHA by each specialty.
Supplemental Material S11. Interest in new tinnitus materials in the DOD and VHA by each specialty.
Boudin-George, A., Cesario, E., Edmonds, C., Thielman, E. J., Henry, J. A., & Clark, K. (2024). Understanding tinnitus clinical care in the Veterans Health Administration and Department of Defense: Overview of survey results. American Journal of Audiology, 33(4), 1184–1201. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00060