Patient-reported benefits from patient organization magazines and Internet-based peer support in Ménière's disease

Associations Among Medical Therapy, SelfAdministered Exercise, and Characteristics of Ménière's Disease

BACKGROUND

The aim of the current study was to explore the associations among different therapeutic procedures, self-administered exercise, and characteristics of Ménière's disease.

METHODS

The study used a retrospective design and included 539 people with Ménière's disease who were focusing on self-administered exercise. The mean age and history of Ménière's disease among these participants were 61.9 years and 15.6 years, respectively. Of the participants, 79.5% were female. The data were collected by an electronic questionnaire that focused on symptoms of Ménière's disease, exercise and training habits, balance problems, impacts of the complaints, quality of life, medical treatment, physiotherapy, and psychotherapy.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 79.3% used medical treatment. Betahistine (56.8%) was the most popular followed by periodical anti-emetic use (41.0%) and diuretics (22.4%). Of the participants 70% were doing some self-administered training. The frequency of training depended on age, severity of balance problems, vestibular drop attacks, and gait problems. The type of training depended on age, quality of life, vestibular drop attacks, and gait problems. No association was found between vertigo and frequency/type of balance training.

CONCLUSION

The use or effect of therapeutic procedures for Ménière's disease patients was not related to symptoms experienced. Most participants with Ménière's disease used training programs that aimed to alleviate their condition, especially balance-, gait-, and vestibular drop attack-associated problems. Patient support organizations should be working to help characterize the types of balance disorders people are dealing with in order to individually tailor a rehabilitation program to the patient's needs.

The Use of the Internet and Social Media by Individuals with Ménière's Disease: An Exploratory Survey of Finnish Ménière Federation Members

OBJECTIVES

The present study explored the use of the Internet and social media by individuals with Ménière's disease (MD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study utilized a retrospective design and included the data of 465 individuals with MD from the Finnish Ménière Federation (FMF) database. Moreover, the participants included 346 females (i.e., approximately 75% of the sample), with roughly 95% of which middle-aged or older adults. An Internet-based survey was used to collect the demographic information and determine the use of the Internet and social media by individuals with MD in order to establish a computer-based peer support program.

RESULTS

Based on the findings, more than 90% of the respondents reported using the Internet, 70% used the Internet to gather information about MD, and 47% stated that they trusted the information on the Internet.

CONCLUSION

The Internet and social media are frequently used by individuals with MD to gather information about their health conditions. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that appropriate and accurate information is available via Internet websites and social media platforms.