Self-reported effects of Ménière's disease on the individual's life: a qualitative analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To define the main consequences of Ménière's disease as perceived by individuals with the condition.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Open-ended questionnaire sent to a 1-in-6 sample of members of the Finnish Ménière's Association.

PATIENTS: Two hundred members of the Finnish Ménière's Association reporting a diagnosis compatible with the condition.

INTERVENTION(S): Postal questionnaire, including the question "Please make a list of the main effects that your Ménière's disorder has on your life."

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Number of respondents listing 1 or more consequences of their condition. Categories of responses listed and numbers of responses within the different categories as defined by World Health Organization-International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.

RESULTS: There was a 79% response rate to the overall questionnaire, and 91% of the respondents listed 1 or more consequences of their Ménière's disease, with a mean of 3.4 consequences listed. These were divided according to the categories listed in International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Seventy percent of the respondents listed impairments, 39% activity limitations, 47% participation restrictions, 16% effects on environmental factors, and 28% on personal contextual factors. Although most impairments covered the main symptoms of the condition, 19% of the respondents listed "mental effects." Mobility problems were reported by more than half of those listing activity limitations, with most of the remainder being "communication." The 2 main areas of participation restrictions commonly reported were "community, social and civic life" and "work and employment."

CONCLUSION: Most individuals with Ménière's disease are able to specify important consequences (principally participation restrictions and activity limitations), many of which are not identified in symptom-orientated approaches.