Research Article: Protocol for the Paediatric Otorrhoea Study (POSt): a multi-methods study to understand the burden of paediatric otorrhoea in the UK
Abstract:
Introduction Paediatric otorrhoea (PO) refers to the leakage of fluid through a perforation in the ear drum, resulting from an infection of the middle ear of a child or young person (CYP). PO frequently results in hearing loss which may lead to developmental delay, restricted communication and reduced educational attainment. Epidemiological information for PO is largely derived from low-income countries. The aim of this study will be to establish the incidence of PO within the UK and to understand the impact of PO on CYP and their families’ everyday lives. It will build the foundations for a randomised controlled trial investigating the best antibiotic treatment for PO. Methods and analysis The study will consist of two work packages. (1) Data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), January 2005 to July 2021, will be used to determine the incidence of patient presentations with PO to primary care in the UK. It will also explore the current antimicrobial prescribing practice for PO in primary care. (2) Thirty semi-structured interviews will be conducted from 13 July to 31 October 2023 with CYP and their parents/carers to help identify the impact of PO on everyday life, the patient journey and how service users define treatment success. Three medical professional focus groups will be used to understand the current management practice, how treatment success is measured and acceptability to randomise patients. Thematic analysis will be used. Ethics and dissemination The Health Research Authority, The Health and Social Care Research Ethics Committee (23/NI/0082) and the CPRD’s research data governance panel (22_002508) reviewed this study. Results will be disseminated at medical conferences, in peer-reviewed journals and via social media. The study will cocreate a webpage on healthtalk.org, with the Dipex Charity, about PO to ensure members of the public can learn more about the condition. Trial registration number ISRCTN46071200 .
Introduction:
Paediatric otorrhoea (PO) is discharged from a child’s ear, that usually results from an infection of the middle ear. The accumulation of pus in the middle ear space causes the tympanic membrane to stretch until it ruptures, with the resultant leakage of foul-smelling discharge from the ear; called acute otitis media with discharge (AOMd). If AOMd persists it can lead to a permanent perforation of the ear drum with chronic discharge. The WHO classifies otorrhoea lasting more than 2?weeks as chronic suppurative…
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