Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35313369›Full record

ArticleDiving and hyperbaric medicine2022

Aural health awareness and incident prevention in UK scuba divers.

Marguerite St Leger Dowse, Matthew K Waterman, Rhodri Jones, Gary R Smerdon

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Diving and hyperbaric medicine, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.2field-weighted citation impact, top 54% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Marguerite St Leger DowseDDRC Healthcare, Plymouth, UK.
Matthew K WatermanWembury Surgery, Wembury, Plymouth, UK.
Rhodri JonesPrincess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, UK.
Gary R SmerdonDDRC Healthcare, Plymouth, UK.
His Majesty's Treasury · GBPlymouth Hospital · GBPrincess of Wales Hospital · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionOtological disorders, including Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), are commonly observed in divers. Data were gathered to observe the prevalence of ear disorders, and awareness of ear health recommendations for recreational divers in the United Kingdom.

methodsAn anonymous online survey included: diver/diving demographics, the validated Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire 7 (ETDQ-7) (a mean score of ≥ 2.1 indicating the presence of dysfunction), pre-existing ear health conditions, medications, decongestants and knowledge of diving and ear health guidance.

resultsA total of 790 divers (64% males) responded (age range 16-80, median 47 years). An ETDQ-7 mean score of ≥ 2.1 was calculated in 315 of 790 respondents (40%), indicating varying degrees of ETD; 56/315 (18%) recorded a pre-existing ear condition. Ear disorders, (external, middle, and inner ear issues) since learning to dive were recorded by 628/790 (79%) of respondents; 291/628 (46%) did not seek medical advice. ETDQ-7 scores of ≥ 2.1 to 6.6 were reported by 293/628 (47%). Six reported inner ear decompression sickness. Decongestants were used by 183/790 (23%). Two hundred and seventy-seven of 790 divers (35%) had aborted a dive with ear problems. Only 214/790 (27%) of respondents were aware of the United Kingdom Diving Medical Committee guidance regarding ear health and diving.

conclusionsEar problems and ETD since diving were widely reported in this cohort of divers, with not all divers in this study aware of ear health recommendations and advice.

Indexed as

DivingEar DiseasesEar, InnerAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesUnited KingdomYoung AdultDecompression sicknessENTETDQ-7Eustachian tubeInner earMiddle ear

Identifiers

PMID35313369
PMCPMC9177430
OpenAlexW4220803180

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.