Beyond motivation: identifying targets for intervention to increase hearing aid use in adults

Abstract

Objective: The present study investigated: (a) how motivated patients are to use their hearing aid, and (b) whether post-motivational variables (e.g. action planning, coping planning) have anything to offer in terms of developing interventions to boost hearing aid use. Design: participants completed a questionnaire designed to tap Health Action Process Approach constructs prior to their hearing aid prescription and fitting. Study sample: Sixty-seven patients attending NHS audiology clinics. Results: Participants reported very strong intentions to use hearing aids (Median ¼ 7.00 Q1 and Q3 ¼ 6.67, 7.00, on a þ1 to þ7 scale) and high self-efficacy (Median ¼ 7.00, Q1 and Q3 ¼ 6.00, on a þ1 to þ7 scale) leaving little room for improvement. In contrast, participants reported moderate levels of post-motivational variables (action planning Median ¼ 4.25, Q1 and Q3 ¼ 1.13, 7.00 and coping planning Median ¼ 2.75, Q1 and Q3 ¼ 1.00, both measured on þ1 to þ7 scales) thereby showing significant scope for change. Conclusions: Future interventions to increase hearing aid use should focus on ensuring that patients' motivation is translated into action, rather than further trying to boost motivation. ARTICLE HISTORY

Biopsychosocial Classification of Hearing Health Seeking in Adults Aged Over 50 Years in England

“…The very high uptake of hearing aids may be because individuals sufficiently motivated to attend a hearing assessment may be likely to follow the advice of a hearing health care professional to obtain a hearing aid following a hearing assessment ( Armitage et al 2017 ). A high level of motivation to use hearing aids in individuals attending audiological clinics has been demonstrated in previous studies ( Meister et al 2008 , 2014 ; Ferguson et al 2016 ; Armitage et al 2017 ; Sawyer et al 2019b ).…”

A Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial of the I-PLAN Intervention to Promote Hearing Aid Use Among First-Time Adult Hearing Aid Users

“…There were no significant differences between non-regular and regular hearing aid users in other baseline characteristics in this study, but previous studies showed that adult patients who had a lower income ( Lupsakko et al., 2005 ) and who did not perceive a need for a hearing aid ( Lupsakko et al., 2005 ; Solheim et al., 2018 ) were more likely not to use or under use their hearing aids. Other factors that might predict low hearing aid use, for example, personality traits and coping strategies ( Cox et al., 2005 ) or postmotivational variables (e.g., action planning; Sawyer et al., 2019 ). Combinations of demographic and/or psychological variables could be used to identify those who are likely not to use hearing aids and may benefit from interventions to promote hearing aid use.…”

“…However, studies report that 5% to 24% of hearing aid owners do not use their hearing aids ( Aazh et al., 2015 ; Hartley et al., 2010 ; Hougaard & Ruf, 2011 ; Solheim & Hickson, 2017 ) and 40% of new adult patients use their hearing aids fewer than 4 hours per day ( Aazh et al., 2015 ). A recent study reported that adult patients were highly motivated to use their hearing aids but had difficulty translating motivation into action (i.e., “volitional processes”; Sawyer et al., 2019 ). This suggests that interventions should target “volitional processes” (e.g., action planning) to increase hearing aid use among adult patients ( Sawyer et al., 2019 ).…”

“…A recent study reported that adult patients were highly motivated to use their hearing aids but had difficulty translating motivation into action (i.e., “volitional processes”; Sawyer et al., 2019 ). This suggests that interventions should target “volitional processes” (e.g., action planning) to increase hearing aid use among adult patients ( Sawyer et al., 2019 ). In addition, given that little is known about what behaviors audiologists perform that may facilitate hearing aid use, studies that involve audiologists delivering interventions face-to-face are needed to provide an evidence base for clinical practice ( Ismail et al., 2019 ).…”

Evaluation of the I-PLAN Intervention to Promote Hearing Aid Use in New Adult Users: a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…One key reason for non- and under-hearing aid use includes forgetting to use hearing aids ( McCormack & Fortnum, 2013 ). Forgetting to use hearing aids may be a result of patients not making explicit plans for hearing aid use ( Sawyer et al 2019 ). A Cochrane systematic review of intervention studies to promote hearing aid use found no self-management support and/or service delivery interventions in audiology that were effective in promoting hearing aid use in adults ( Barker et al 2016c ).…”