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

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

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.

Objective This 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.

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

Setting

All data collection took place online

Participants Participants represented one of two stakeholder groups: patients with lived experience of tinnitus and professionals with relevant clinical, commercial or research experience.

Results Stakeholders 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.

Conclusion This 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.

Citation

Labree, B., Hoare, D., Fackrell, K., Hall, D. A., Gascoyne, L. E., & Sereda, M. (2025). Establishing a core domain set for early-phase clinical trials of electrical stimulation interventions for tinnitus in adults: an online Delphi study. BMJ Open, 15(3), Article e079769. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079769

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 7, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Mar 4, 2025
• Publication Date: Mar 4, 2025
• Deposit Date: May 29, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: May 30, 2025
• Journal: BMJ Open
• Electronic ISSN: 2044-6055
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 3
• Article Number: e079769
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079769
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/46313028
• Publisher URL: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/3/e079769