Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40037669›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Establishing a core domain set for early-phase clinical trials of electrical stimulation interventions for tinnitus in adults: an online Delphi study.

Bas Labree, Derek Hoare, Kathryn Fackrell, Deborah A Hall, Lauren E Gascoyne, Magdalena Sereda

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

6 authors.

Bas LabreeNIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK bas.labree1@nottingham.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0002-3999-4562
Derek HoareNIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8768-1392
Kathryn FackrellNIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK.
Deborah A HallDepartment of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK.
Lauren E GascoyneSir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Magdalena SeredaNIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK.

Funding

National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) NF-SI-0617-10030
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Tinnitus is the awareness of sound in the ear or head in the absence of an external source. It affects around 10%-15% of people, and current treatment options are limited. Experimental treatments include various forms of electrical stimulation of the brain. Currently, there is no consensus on the outcomes that should be measured when investigating the efficacy of this type of intervention for tinnitus.

objectiveThis study sought to address this issue by establishing a core domain set: a common standard of what specific tinnitus-related complaints are critically important to assess in all clinical trials of electrical stimulation-based interventions for tinnitus.

designA two-round Delphi survey was conducted, followed by a stakeholder consensus meeting to identify a core domain set.

resultsStakeholders achieved consensus on the inclusion of ability to ignore, concentration, treatment satisfaction, helplessness (lack of control) and tinnitus intrusiveness in the core domain set, in addition to adverse effects.

conclusionThis study established a core domain set for the evaluation of electrical stimulation-based interventions for tinnitus via an e-Delphi study. This core domain set will act as a minimum standard for reporting in future clinical trials of electrical stimulation interventions for tinnitus. Standardisation will facilitate comparability of research findings.

Indexed as

Clinical Trials as TopicElectric Stimulation TherapyTinnitusAdultConsensusDelphi TechniqueFemaleHumansMalePatient SatisfactionElectric Stimulation TherapyInternetOtolaryngologyPatient Reported Outcome Measures

Identifiers

PMID40037669
PMCPMC11881199

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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.