ArticlePloS one2021
Acute otitis externa: Consensus definition, diagnostic criteria and core outcome set development.
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- Diagnostic criteria and core outcome set development for necrotising otitis externa: the COSNOE Delphi consensus study.The Journal of laryngology and otology · 2024Pooled it
- Efficacy and Safety of Glycerol Lidocaine Ear Drops in the Non-Antibiotic Treatment of Otitis Externa Symptoms-An Observational Study.Clinics and practice · 2026Article
- Evaluation of the efficacy of combination therapy in the treatment of fungal otitis externa.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- A core outcome set for acute otitis media (COS-AOM) for primary and community care studies.BMC primary care · 2025Article
- A Comparative Study on Management of Acute Otitis Externa with and Without Oral Antibiotics in a Tertiary Care Centre, Maduranthagam.Indian journal of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery : official publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India · 2024Article
- The Association Between Malignant Otitis Externa and Diabetes Mellitus in Africa: A Systematic Review.Indian journal of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery : official publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India · 2023Article
- Article
- Methodology for the development of National Multidisciplinary Management Recommendations using a multi-stage meta-consensus initiative.BMC medical research methodology · 2022Article
- Establishing Internationally Accepted Conceptual and Operational Definitions of Social Prescribing Through Expert Consensus: A Delphi Study Protocol.International journal of integrated careArticle
- Stakeholder Consensus Selection of Data Elements and Indicators for a Pancreatic Cancer Surgical Outcomes Registry in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand: Modified Delphi Process.ANZ journal of surgeryArticle
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Authors and funding
87 authors at 20 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveEvidence for the management of acute otitis externa (AOE) is limited, with unclear diagnostic criteria and variably reported outcome measures that may not reflect key stakeholder priorities. We aimed to develop 1) a definition, 2) diagnostic criteria and 3) a core outcome set (COS) for AOE. STUDY
designCOS development according to Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) methodology and parallel consensus selection of diagnostic criteria/definition.
settingStakeholders from the United Kingdom. SUBJECTS AND
methodsComprehensive literature review identified candidate items for the COS, definition and diagnostic criteria. Nine individuals with past AOE generated further patient-centred candidate items. Candidate items were rated for importance by patient and professional (ENT doctors, general practitioners, microbiologists, nurses, audiologists) stakeholders in a three-round online Delphi exercise. Consensus items were grouped to form the COS, diagnostic criteria, and definition.
resultsCandidate COS items from patients (n = 28) and literature (n = 25) were deduplicated and amalgamated to a final candidate list (n = 46). Patients emphasised quality-of-life and the impact on daily activities/work. Via the Delphi process, stakeholders agreed on 31 candidate items. The final COS covered six outcomes: pain; disease severity; impact on quality-of-life and daily activities; patient satisfaction; treatment-related outcome; and microbiology. 14 candidate diagnostic criteria were identified, 8 reaching inclusion consensus. The final definition for AOE was 'diffuse inflammation of the ear canal skin of less than 6 weeks duration'.
conclusionThe development and adoption of a consensus definition, diagnostic criteria and a COS will help to standardise future research in AOE, facilitating meta-analysis. Consulting former patients throughout development highlighted deficiencies in the outcomes adopted previously, in particular concerning the impact of AOE on daily life.
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