Olfactory training: perspective from people who were disturbed by their smell problems
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Purpose: Olfactory training (OT) is an effective and affordable option in the treatment of olfactory dysfunction. Despite significant progress in the field in recent years, some factors influencing OT participation remain unclear. Methods: Based on an anonymous online survey orchestrated by AbScent.org the present study enrolled 450 participants and divided them into OT (n = 161) and No OT (n = 289) groups based on their OT participation. Participants also provided information on demographics, medical history, quality of life, OT duration for those who engaged in OT, and the reasons for non-participation in OT among those who did not. Results: Patients who had greater loss of quality of life participated more in OT. Similarly, more participation was observed in patients who noticed an improvement in their ability to smell. Notably, most of the sample engaged in OT trained less than four weeks (73%). In the No OT group, the primary barrier to OT participation was the unawareness of OT treatment (37%) and these barriers differed by age, where older people expressed interest but were unaware of OT treatment, while younger individuals exhibited more cautiousness about its effectiveness. Conclusion: Lower quality of life drives active OT participation. Limited training periods and unawareness of OT serve as potential barriers to olfactory recovery. Clinicians should actively promote the background of OT and underscore the significance of adhering to the “prescribed” training regimen.
Details
Original language | English |
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Journal | European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology |
Early online date | 23 Aug 2024 |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 23 Aug 2024 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
ORCID | /0000-0001-9713-0183/work/167708133 |
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Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- Adherence, Olfactory training, Quality of life, Smell