Ear Symptoms and Earphone Usage: A Web-Based Survey Study

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the potential impact of earphone use on the occurrence of otitis externa (OE) by conducting a survey. Subjects and Methods: This study included 517 participants. The questionnaire comprised 22 items divided into three categories; general information, earphone use, and OE. The questionnaire was designed using Google Forms and distributed through a notice posted on a hospital bulletin board. This notice included a QR code that enabled any interested individual to participate, and the responses were collected automatically. Results: The proportion of respondents who had experienced OE at least once was 21%. Among them, 33.7% experienced OE within the preceding month. For “adhering to the recommendation usage time,” individuals who responded “likely” had a 0.440 (odds ratio=0.440, 95% confidence interval=0.195–0.993) times higher likelihood; they were at lower risk of experiencing OE compared to those who responded “very unlikely.” Conclusions: Our findings suggest that proper earphone use can reduce the risk of OE. Despite the lack of a significant relationship between earphone type, physical activity, and cleaning practices, continued adherence to these factors is recommended to prevent OE.