Response Shift in Sinus Surgery Outcomes
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01391910 |
Recruitment Status
:
Completed
First Posted
: July 12, 2011
Last Update Posted
: December 12, 2013
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The aims of the study are: 1)to assess pre and post-operative Quality of Life (QOL) as measured by the Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test(SNOT)-20 questionnaire and 2)determine the significance of response shift on treatment effect.
This is a prospective cohort study. The investigators will recruit patients who are within a 6 month post-functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) timeframe and completed a pre-operative SNOT-20. The investigators will ask subjects to complete two more SNOT-20 forms and a Transition Quality of Life (QOL) scale. The SNOT-20 forms will be labelled "pre" and "post" operative. The "pre" should be completed based on subject's memory of their condition prior to surgery and "post" based on how they feel now.
Condition or disease |
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Chronic Rhinosinusitis |
Introduction The most common goal of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is to improve quality of life (QOL). Changes in QOL or treatment effect can be measured using validated instruments completed by patients. One's perception of QOL is often a dynamic experience and has been shown to be affected by current medical and emotional state. This phenomenon is known as response shift in QOL research and can be measured by using the Then-test. This test asks patients to complete the same pre-operative survey of their symptoms during the post-operative period. This test aims to characterize any changes in one's perception of the pre-operative condition. The aim of this study is to assess the significance of response shift on sinus surgery outcomes measured using the sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT-20), a validated questionnaire used to assess the severity of symptoms related to chronic rhinosinusitis.
Methods This was a prospective cohort study approved by the University of Washington IRB. We approached all patients who underwent FESS for chronic rhinosinusitis from 2010-2012 who completed a pre-operative SNOT-20. We aimed to recruit 30 patients. Patients were mailed 2 SNOT-20 forms and a transition QOL scale at least 6 months after surgery. Patients were instructed to complete 1 SNOT-20 according to their pre-operative symptoms (then-test) and the other according to their post-operative symptoms. The difference between the pre- and post-operative SNOT-20 was calculated which represents the treatment effect, while the difference between the pre-operative SNOT-20 and then-test represents the response shift. A student t-test was used to compare these differences.
Results A total of 32 complete responses were obtained. Using a 0 to 5 SNOT-20 scale, the average treatment effect was -0.96 (p=0.00) and the average response shift was +0.42 (p=0.01). The negative treatment effect signifies an improvement in QOL. The positive response shift signifies that on average, patients thought they were even more symptomatic prior to surgery. The actual treatment effect is the sum of treatment effect and response shift which was -1.38.
Discussion Response shift exists and can be quantified in FESS outcomes. The actual treatment effect was more profound when taking into account response shift, therefore future studies should account for this often unmeasured, potential change in QOL.
Study Type : | Observational |
Actual Enrollment : | 32 participants |
Observational Model: | Cohort |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Official Title: | Response Shift in Sinus Surgery Outcomes |
Study Start Date : | June 2011 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | June 2013 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | June 2013 |
Group/Cohort |
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post endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis
Patients who have undergone functional endoscopic sinus surgery for treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis and completed a pre-surgery SNOT-20
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- Sino-Nasal Outcome 20 (SNOT-20) [ Time Frame: 6 months post surgery ]The SNOT-20 "pre" and "post" surgery will be compared to the pre-surgery SNOT-20

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Senior) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Sampling Method: | Non-Probability Sample |
Inclusion Criteria:
- age greater than 18 years
- ICD 9 code for CRS and CPT code for FESS
- completed a pre-operative SNOT-20 questionnaire
- within 6 months of surgical treatment
- pts. of PI
Exclusion Criteria:
- unable to give informed consent or complete questionnaires written in English due to cognitive impairment, language barriers or severe medical conditions
- CRS secondary to malignancy
- incomplete or incorrectly completed pre-operative SNOT-20

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01391910
United States, Washington | |
University of Washington | |
Seattle, Washington, United States, 98104 |
Principal Investigator: | Greg E Davis, MD, MPH | University of Washington |
Responsible Party: | Greg Davis, Assistant Professor, University of Washington |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01391910 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
40578-E/A |
First Posted: | July 12, 2011 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | December 12, 2013 |
Last Verified: | December 2013 |
Keywords provided by Greg Davis, University of Washington:
rhinosinusitis |