Visual-Olfactory Training and Patient Preference in Treatment of COVID-19 Olfactory Loss

To the Editor We read with interest the randomized clinical trial by Kan et al investigating whether visual aids, patient-preferred scents, or both influence response to olfactory training for COVID-19 –related smell impairment. Despite the intuitive appeal of providing multimodal therapy and engaging patients in a selection of scents, the study did not detect a clinically meaningful improvement in the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) scores or incremental benefit in olfactory recovery with the intervention. The investigators did, however, note a potential signal relating to within-patient change in UPSIT scores and self-reported impression of improvement. One possible explanation for the indeterminate findings regarding efficacy is that virtual visual presentat ion of stimuli and limited personal contact might have attenuated the salience of the novel interventions.
Source: JAMA Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery - Category: ENT & OMF Source Type: research