National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR)

International Ototoxicity Management Group (IOMG): Aims

Aim 1. Conduct an environmental scan of ototoxicity management (OM) practices across myriad countries, clinical environments and patient populations to identify OM care gaps, barriers and facilitators in relation to best practice guidelines.  Established qualitative methods will be used to obtain and analyze survey and interview data in order to gain the perspectives of patient, provider and policy-maker stakeholders. Care will be taken to get input that can inform on a range of health care structures in countries with emerging, transitional and strong economies.

Aim 2. Conduct literature reviews that will be used to synthesize OM guidelines, strategies and clinical practices as well as evidence on the efficacy and effectiveness of OM for improving patient- and treatment-level outcomes. In order to efficiently search for relevant literature, the PICOT framework1 will be utilized. This involves defining the patient problem, intervention, comparison, outcome and type of question to be answered and using these key structures as search criteria.

Aim 3a. Develop a cohesive set of guidelines and position statements in collaboration with representatives from the specific clinical specialties and/or community health care workers providing ototoxic therapies to promote widespread OM and prevent inconsistent practices, beginning with a guideline for cystic fibrosis patients receiving aminoglycoside antibiotics in the U.S.

Aim 3b. Develop patient- and provider-facing educational materials using traditional and non-traditional formats to facilitate stakeholder involvement and maintain continuity of OM care.
Aims 3a and 3b will involve determining appropriate OM schedules and methods that maximize patient outcomes while minimizing preventable ototoxicity, are tolerable for the patient and logistically feasible. This aim will be accomplished by addressing the specific populations of medically complex patients receiving ototoxic therapies, the health care structures in which the OM is administered, and by incorporating patient, provider and policy-maker input.

¹A Framework To Facilitate the Use of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses in the Design of Primary Research Studies Research White Papers Investigators: Matthew Thompson, MBChB, MPH, DPhil, MRCGP, Arpita Tiwari, MHS, Rongwei Fu, PhD, Esther Moe, PhD, MPH, and David I Buckley, MD, MPH. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2012 Jan. Report No.: 12-EHC009-EF

return to top