The feasibility of an m-health educational programme (m2Hear) to improve outcomes in first-time hearing aid users

Ferguson, Melanie A.; Maidment, David W.; Gomez, Rachel; Coulson, Neil; Wharrad, Heather

doi:10.1080/14992027.2020.1825839

Cited by 24 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Investing time in supporting parents and making sure they have the tools they need, can help parents to integrate hearing aid management habits into their daily lives, and this can offer developmental benefits for children. Research with adults who use hearing aids found improved knowledge and self-efficacy with multimedia education and mhealth programs (Ferguson et al 2016(Ferguson et al , 2020Gomez and Ferguson 2020), providing further support of the importance of offering programs that address hearing aid management.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

eHealth parent education for hearing aid management: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Muñoz

Miguel

Barrett

et al. 2021

International Journal of Audiology

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Objective: Parents frequently experience challenges implementing daily routines important for consistent hearing aid management. Education that supports parents in learning new information and gaining confidence is essential for intervention success. We conducted a pilot study to test an eHealth program to determine if we could implement the program with adherence and affect important behavioural outcomes compared to treatment as usual. Design: Randomised controlled trial. Study sample: Parents of children birth to 42 months who use hearing aids. Eighty-two parents were randomly assigned to the intervention or treatment-as-usual group. Four parents assigned to the intervention group did not continue after baseline testing. Results: The intervention was delivered successfully with low drop out (10%), high session completion (97%), and high program adherence. The intervention conditions showed significantly greater gains over time for knowledge, confidence, perceptions, and monitoring related to hearing aid management. Significant differences between groups were not observed for hearing aid use time. Conclusion:We found that we could successfully implement this eHealth program and that it benefitted the participants in terms of knowledge and confidence with skills important for hearing aid management. Future research is needed to determine how to roll programs like this out on a larger scale.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

eHealth parent education for hearing aid management: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Muñoz

Miguel

Barrett

et al. 2021

International Journal of Audiology

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“…One potential explanation is that existing users were able to use their experience to motivate participation, as their older devices served as a direct comparator. It is important to note that the quantitative results (Ferguson et al 2019; Habib et al 2019) show that new hearing aid users saw the greatest improvements in hearing aid benefit and had equal feedback ratings relative to existing hearing aid users, suggesting that it was not lack of benefit that limited the participation of first-time hearing aid users in Phase II. As previous studies (Ng et al 2017; Maidment & Ferguson 2018; Maidment et al 2019) solely sampled existing hearing aid users, it is unclear if the views of the 1 new hearing aid user included in the present study are represented.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A single-center prospective, observational study used a mixed-methods approach, with two phases. Phase I aimed to determine the benefits of smartphone-connected hearing aids over a 7-week study period using primarily quantitative methods (Ferguson et al 2019). Phase II (December 2018 to January 2019) aimed to determine the barriers and facilitators of using the smartphone-connected hearing aids and app in everyday life using a qualitative approach following completion of Phase I.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First-time and existing adult hearing aid users were identified through convenience sampling from a cohort of participants who had completed Phase I evaluation of smartphone-connected hearing aids (n = 44 hearing aid users) (Ferguson et al 2019). Participants were recruited from the publicly funded Adult Audiology Services, Nottingham University Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Trust, United Kingdom, after their initial hearing assessment appointment.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Accordingly, a mixed-methods study was carried out to examine the benefit and usability of smartphone-connected hearing aids and accompanying prototype app (Sonova AG 2018). This article focuses on the qualitative evaluation, whereas the quantitative evaluation has been reported by Ferguson et al (2019). The main aim was to identify the patient-reported barriers and facilitators to using the smartphone-connected hearing aids and accompanying, prototype app (Sonova AG 2018) (i.e., the target health behavior), underpinned by the BCW.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Smartphone-Connected Hearing Aids Enable and Empower Self-Management of Hearing Loss: A Qualitative Interview Study Underpinned by the Behavior Change Wheel

et al. 2021

Self Cite

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Objectives: To identify patient-reported barriers and facilitators to using smartphone-connected hearing aids, using the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) to understand experiences and how these can be addressed.Design: A single-center, prospective, observational study. Eight hearing aid users (new = 1, existing = 7; mean age = 71.75 years, SD = 5.23, range = 65 to 81 years) were identified through convenience sampling from 44 participants who took part in a 7-week evaluation of smartphone-connected hearing aids controlled by a prototype app. The app allowed users to manually control settings such as gain, noise reduction, and microphone directionality, preset, and customized programmes. Participants were assigned to one of two focus groups following trial of the app.Results: Focus group transcripts were thematically analyzed and underpinned by the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behavior) model and Theoretical Domains Framework to identify barriers and facilitators to using smartphone-connected hearing aids (the target behavior). Mapping of themes to the BCW allowed use of the Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy (version 1) to identify behavior change techniques that audiologists could implement in clinical practice to address the barriers and facilitators. Capability: The app increased participants' knowledge of hearing aid controls, encouraging use of the app for improved hearing loss self-management. However, barriers to using the app included perception of insufficient digital literacy skills for smartphone-connected hearing aid use and an increased cognitive load caused by decisions over which controls to use. Opportunity: Perceived smartphone norms (i.e., acceptable occasions to use smartphones) and differing listening contexts acted as both facilitators and barriers. Motivation: The ability to control hearing aid settings in any listening situation (e.g., to reduce noise) empowered users to successfully self-manage their hearing loss, leading to greater confidence and participation in everyday life. The app also reduced hearing aid-related and self-stigma, and the ability to selfadjust hearing aids benefitted both participants and communication partners. It was the adjustability and interaction afforded by the app that empowered users, rather than the hearing aid technology itself. Perceived beliefs and knowledge about digital literacy skills, and specifically abilities to use a smartphone, were perceived to be barriers in this typically older population, particularly when they compared themselves to younger generations. Using the Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy (version 1), behavior change techniques that could be used by audiologists to address these barriers included enablement, goal setting, reframing perceptions toward technology, and addressing patient educational needs.Conclusions: Smartphone-connected hearing aids, when used in their everyday lives, were viewed positively by participants across a range of domains, empowering them and enabling hearing loss self-management. Audiologists shoul...

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Interventions to improve social network in older people with sensory impairment: a systematic review

Kuang,

Hu,

Dai

et al. 2024

Aging Clin Exp Res

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Background Sensory impairment significantly reduces speech discrimination and perception ability, presenting a challenge to effective communication. It can lead to social withdrawal and a reduced social network which can lead to cognitive impairment, seriously affecting the quality of life of older people. However, it is unclear which intervention components are effective to improving social network in older people with sensory impairment. Objective The aim of this systematic review was to summarize interventions designed to improve social network in older people with sensory impairment. Methods We searched seven databases from inception to December 1, 2023. Eligible studies included randomized clinical trials (RCT) and quasi-experimental studies of interventions for older people with sensory impairment aimed at improving social networks. Two reviewers searched databases, extracted data, and assessed the quality of the included studies independently. Results Nine studies including five RCTs and four quasi-experimental studies were selected, enrolling 721 older people with sensory impairment. Methodological quality of the studies was modest. Eight studies demonstrated a positive impact of the interventions used in older people with sensory impairment. The detailed effective intervention components may include communication strategies, resources for older people and their significant others, exercise or tech-back of communication, sensory device fitting, and use and maintenance of sensory devices. Conclusion There are few interventions available for improving social network in older people with sensory impairment. Most interventions mainly focus on communication education and care, and sensory device fitting and education. To improve the social network in older people with sensory impairment, it is necessary to develop more effective, multidisciplinary collaborative effective interventions and conduct more high-quality original studies.

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The feasibility of an m-health educational programme (m2Hear) to improve outcomes in first-time hearing aid users

Cited by 24 publications

References 52 publications

eHealth parent education for hearing aid management: a pilot randomized controlled trial

eHealth parent education for hearing aid management: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Smartphone-Connected Hearing Aids Enable and Empower Self-Management of Hearing Loss: A Qualitative Interview Study Underpinned by the Behavior Change Wheel

Interventions to improve social network in older people with sensory impairment: a systematic review

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