Associations of Collective Self-Help Activity, Health Literacy and Quality of Life in Patients with Tinnitus

TY - JOUR

T1 - Associations of Collective Self-Help Activity, Health Literacy and Quality of Life in Patients with Tinnitus

AU - Kofahl, Christopher

PY - 2018/12

Y1 - 2018/12

N2 - OBJECTIVE:About 800 of the 13,000 members of the German Tinnitus Association (DTL) are active in self-help groups (SHGs). This study analyzes whether SHG-participation is associated with tinnitus-related Health Literacy (HLit) and Quality of Life (QoL).METHODS:In a cross-sectional study 1108 tinnitus patients in- and outside of SHGs administered a questionnaire containing tinnitus-related burden, QoL, tinnitus knowledge, self-management, assessment of SHGs, and socio-demographics. Participants were divided into four subgroups: (1) active SHG-members (19.6%), (2) former SHG-members (10.6%), (3) DTL-members, but not in SHG (57.9%), (4) neither DTL- nor SHG-members (11.9%).RESULTS:Participant were 59.7% male and 61.3 years on average. SHG-attendees are on average 5 years older than non-attendees, and have a lower education, while there are no differences in gender-distribution. Regression analyses show significant associations between SHG-participation and tinnitus knowledge, coping and self-esteem. QoL, however, is not associated with SHG-participation. SHG-members report considerable further benefits from SHG-membership.CONCLUSIONS:Despite the limitations through the cross-sectional design, it seems more likely that tinnitus-related HLit and other benefits are a result of SHG-participation than vice versa.PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS:Health care providers should inform their patients about SHGs and encourage them to consider a SHG as a possible option for their self-management.

AB - OBJECTIVE:About 800 of the 13,000 members of the German Tinnitus Association (DTL) are active in self-help groups (SHGs). This study analyzes whether SHG-participation is associated with tinnitus-related Health Literacy (HLit) and Quality of Life (QoL).METHODS:In a cross-sectional study 1108 tinnitus patients in- and outside of SHGs administered a questionnaire containing tinnitus-related burden, QoL, tinnitus knowledge, self-management, assessment of SHGs, and socio-demographics. Participants were divided into four subgroups: (1) active SHG-members (19.6%), (2) former SHG-members (10.6%), (3) DTL-members, but not in SHG (57.9%), (4) neither DTL- nor SHG-members (11.9%).RESULTS:Participant were 59.7% male and 61.3 years on average. SHG-attendees are on average 5 years older than non-attendees, and have a lower education, while there are no differences in gender-distribution. Regression analyses show significant associations between SHG-participation and tinnitus knowledge, coping and self-esteem. QoL, however, is not associated with SHG-participation. SHG-members report considerable further benefits from SHG-membership.CONCLUSIONS:Despite the limitations through the cross-sectional design, it seems more likely that tinnitus-related HLit and other benefits are a result of SHG-participation than vice versa.PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS:Health care providers should inform their patients about SHGs and encourage them to consider a SHG as a possible option for their self-management.

U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2018.07.001

DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2018.07.001

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

VL - 101

SP - 2170

EP - 2178

JO - PATIENT EDUC COUNS

JF - PATIENT EDUC COUNS

SN - 0738-3991

IS - 12

ER -