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Ear, Nose and Throat - Aspects of Balance
A JLA Priority Setting Partnership

The British Society for Academic Otolaryngology (BSAO), in partnership with the James Lind Alliance (JLA), and supported by ENT UK and members of several other professional organisations, set up a Priority Setting Partnership (PSP).

This Partnership between clinicians and patients aimed to identify unanswered questions about the treatment of balance disorders – questions from the perspective of both patients and clinicians - and then prioritise those that both groups agreed were the most important.

Participants were invited to take part in this process and to contribute to identifying, and deciding the most important, research questions for the treatment of balance disorders. We felt it was vital that more research is done in this area, and that this research focuses on the questions that are most important to people who suffer from balance disorders, their carers and relatives and the health professionals who treat them.

The Partnership's final priority setting meeting took place on 31st May at the Royal College of Surgeons in London. The top 10 research priorities for ear, nose and throat aspects of balance was agreed as follows:

1. What is the optimal process for GP education and training for improved diagnosis and management of balance disorders?

2. What is the best way of training health professionals in the management of balance disorders?

3. What is the most effective treatment for Vestibular migraine?

4. What are the best interventions to improve balance/minimise symptoms in daily activities such as supermarkets, escalators etc.?

5. Is any specific surgical intervention effective in Ménière's disease and what procedure is best?

6. Are there any effective interventions for the ear pressure symptoms in Ménière's disease?

7. What is the optimum pharmacological strategy for the management of patients with Ménière's disease? In particular, what are the effects of betahistine (including long term effects)?

8. Is it helpful in preventing the severity, frequency and progression of attacks of Ménière's disease to adopt a specific diet, or restrict salt, caffeine or fluid intake?

9. Are the home-based exercises given to patients with balance disorders effective?

10. Are stress management techniques helpful in patients with balance disorders?

 

Background documents

An initial "Awareness Meeting" was held 18th May 2010 at the Royal College of Surgeons (For a copy of the minutes please click here).

A protocol was created which sets out the aims, objectives and commitments of the Aspects of Balance – Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) and the basic roles and responsibilities of the partners therein. To see a copy of the protocol click here

Identifying and Harvesting Treatment Uncertainties
Letter to Aspects of Balance PSP - click here (PDF)

If you would like any further information, contact Jo White jo@entuk.org