Evaluation of health service outcomes for an audiology first point of contact retrocochlear clinic: a 6-year retrospective cohort study

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Hall, Amber E
Brandenburg, Caitlin
Ward, Elizabeth C
Pokorny, Michelle A
Trafford, Katye
Seabrook, Marnie
Whitfield, Bernard CS
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2022
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Abstract

Objective: Although existing studies of audiology first point of contact clinics which screen for retrocochlear pathology have demonstrated positive clinical outcomes, they have provided limited information regarding service impacts. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate both the clinical and health service outcomes of an audiology first point of contact (FPOC) clinic for adults referred to ENT services with suspected retrocochlear pathology. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Study sample: All 1123 patients referred to the clinic over a 6-year period (2013–2019). Results: Most (73.7%) of the 1123 patients referred to the Retrocochlear Clinic were managed and discharged by the audiologist and did not require ENT appointment. Almost half (43.1%) were directly referred for MRI imaging, of which 4 (1.1%) were diagnosed with Vestibular Schwannoma. Waiting times for first appointments significantly (p < 0.001) reduced from a median of 748 days to 63.5 days over the 6-year period. Attendance rates also significantly (p < 0.001) improved over this time (from 52.2% to 90%). There were no adverse events reported. Of those discharged without attending an ENT appointment, 1.8% were rereferred to ENT within 12 months of discharge. Conclusions: This audiology FPOC Retrocochlear Clinic was shown to be a safe and effective alternative service model.

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International Journal of Audiology

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This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in International Journal of Audiology, 2022, copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2022.2073477

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This publication has been entered in Griffith Research Online as an advanced online version.

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Clinical sciences

Allied health and rehabilitation science

Public health

Science & Technology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology

Otorhinolaryngology

Retrospective studies

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Hall, AE; Brandenburg, C; Ward, EC; Pokorny, MA; Trafford, K; Seabrook, M; Whitfield, BCS, Evaluation of health service outcomes for an audiology first point of contact retrocochlear clinic: a 6-year retrospective cohort study, International Journal of Audiology, 2022

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