gms | German Medical Science

Figure

Figure 1: Scheme of the assessment levels of tympanoplasty or ear surgery. By triangulation of assessment instruments (possible methods), a more exact statement can be made with an increasing number of methods. As of level 4, the results of single patients are considered in the context of studies. The more detailed the characterization was performed on the previous levels, the more exact and valid are the conclusions. (OP: surgery; MER: middle ear risk; OOPS: ossiculoplasty outcome parameter staging; HRQoL: health-related quality of life; COMOT-15: chronic otitis media outcome test 15; ZCMEI-21: Zurich chronic middle ear inventory; CES: chronic ear survey; COMQ-12: chronic otitis media questionnaire 12).