J Korean Biol Nurs Sci.  2023 Feb;25(1):55-62. 10.7586/jkbns.23.347.

The experiences of patients with tinnitus: a qualitative study

• Kang K
• Lee SH
• Lee H

• KMID: 2548275
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7586/jkbns.23.347

Abstract

Purpose
Tinnitus, which is often described as the conscious awareness of a sound without an external auditory stimulus, is one of the most common symptoms in the general population. This study aimed to explore the experiences of individuals living with tinnitus.
Methods
In this qualitative exploratory study, data were collected from November 2017 to January 2018 through in-depth individual interviews with 11 tinnitus patients. Verbatim transcripts and field notes were analyzed using content analysis.
Results
The extracted content was classified into three core categories of tinnitus experiences: “suffering from constant sound,” “being imprisoned surrounded by persistent noise,” and “efforts to overcome.”
Conclusion
This study shows that tinnitus had a severe negative impact on patients’ lives. The finding will help healthcare providers understand their patients more deeply.

Keyword

Tinnitus; Symptom; Qualitative research; 이명; 증상; 질적연구