Painful Perspectives: Exploring Gender-Based Variances in Patient Definitions of Common Otolaryngologic Complaints

Introduction: Health literacy discrepancies between patients and providers have demonstrated variable impacts on patient outcomes, satisfaction, and utilization. Gender differences in defining otolaryngologic complaints remains incompletely defined.

Methods: Between July 2021 and July 2023, a multi-institutional cross-sectional study was performed using semantics-based questionnaires to assess patient definitions for complaints related to sinus infections, migraines, congestion, reflux, and dizziness. Patients selected symptoms from lists of proposed terms to define the various conditions. The primary outcome measure was gender-related differences in respondent definitions.

Results: A total of 1,694 questionnaires (47.6% male, 52.4% female) were completed across 6 academic centers. Males selected an average of one term fewer than females (males = 7.8 terms, females = 8.8 terms, P = 0.0211). Females were more likely to associate conditions with pain-related symptoms, including sinus infections and pain in the face (13.0% difference; 95% CI, 4.8% to 20.9%); migraines and eye pain (21.1% difference; 95% CI, 10.9% to 30.6%); congestion and headache (15.1% difference; 95% CI, 5.1% to 24.5%); and reflux and bellyache (14.2% difference; 95% CI, 5% to 23%).

Conclusions: In this cohort, there is variability between males and females when defining common otolaryngologic complaints, with females more commonly selecting pain-related symptoms. No differences were identified in pain-related symptoms selected by males and females for dizziness. These findings may allow for better clinician understanding of gender differences in common otolaryngology complaints.