Results
115 patients were randomised, 57 to receive a questionnaire (questionnaire group, QG) and 58 to not receive a questionnaire (non-questionnaire group NQG) (See Figure 1). . The age range of patients was 13 – 95 years with a mean age of 59 years. All patients were contacted and offered a telephone consultation for their balance complaint. Some patients were not contactable or declined the consultation as their problem had resolved. In the QG 40 of 57 patients completed and returned the questionnaire in the envelopes provided, giving a response rate of 70%. Five of these patients’ questionnaires arrived after their appointment, but since completion likely affected their ability to articulate their symptoms, they were included in the study. Thirty-five of 57 (61%) patients in the QG and 47/58 (81%) patients in the NQG were included in the analysisFifty-seven patients of 82 (70%) of the patients were female. Five clinicians conducted the consultations, three consultants and two specialist registrars. Fifty-two of 85 (61%) patients had their consultation with an ENT consultant and 33/85 (39%) with a specialty registrar. In the QG 22/38 (51%) were seen by a consultant. In the NQG 30/47 (64%) patients were seen by a consultant. The mean duration of telephone consultations was 13 minutes (range 3 -31 minutes) with no difference between the two groups (p=1).