Clinical Trial: Hearing Loss Prevention for Veterans
Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional
Official Title: Hearing Loss Prevention for Veterans
Brief Summary: Hearing loss is the most prevalent service-connected disability in the VA. It causes communication difficulties, which contribute to isolation, frustration and depression. A major cause of hearing loss is from exposure to high levels of sound, and is referred to as Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Veterans have inevitably been exposed to high levels of sound during military service, and even though they may not yet have NIHL, their ears have been damaged. Continued noise exposure in civilian life will result in NIHL. However, it can easily be prevented by avoiding noise or using hearing protection. Most people are unaware that noise damages hearing, and even when they are, they do not use hearing protection. In this study we will use a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the short- and long-term effectiveness of two forms of education about NIHL that we have developed for Veterans. One is a computerized program; the other is a Hearing Conservation Brochure
Detailed Summary:
Hearing loss and tinnitus are the two most prevalent service-connected disabilities in the VA system for Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans, and Veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and during Peacetime. Costs associated with health care utilization, provision of hearing aids, rehabilitation services and reduced productivity for Veterans with hearing loss are substantial, and continue to increase. On a personal level, hearing loss results in communication difficulties, and often contributes to social isolation, frustration and depression. A major cause of hearing impairment is cochlear damage from exposure to high levels of sound. The longer the period of exposure and the more intense the sound pressure level, the greater is the damage that occurs. The damage from noise exposure is cumulative over time, and exacerbates the effects of aging. Veterans, who have been exposed to high levels of sound in the military are therefore highly vulnerable to damage in civilian life, thus they must protect their ears from further noise to avoid hearing loss as they age. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the damage noise can do to the auditory system, and even when they are aware, few choose to use hearing protection. It is therefore critical to educate Veterans about the dangers of noise exposure and the simple actions that can be taken to protect hearing.
Our long-range goal is to disseminate an effective hearing loss prevention education program that will help to reduce the prevalence and associated costs of noise induced hearing loss in the Veteran population. Ultimately it is our intention to make the program available to all Veterans, military personnel and other members of the public.
We have developed two forms of intervention to educate Veterans about hearing conserv
Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development
Current Primary Outcome: Percentage of Time Spent at Sound Levels >80 Decibels [ Time Frame: 1 month ]
Original Primary Outcome: Objective measure of noise exposure using dosimeter [ Time Frame: 1 month, 6 months ]
Current Secondary Outcome:
- Knowledge About Hearing Conservation Scale [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1 month ]Knowledge about hearing conservation was assessed with 16 items in the the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Questionnaire (KAB; Saunders et al., 2014). It is a validated questionnaire that assesses knowledge about and attitudes toward hearing and hearing loss prevention. The Knowledge scale is scored as a percent correct, with a higher score indicating more knowledge. Data presented are for change in knowledge between baseline and 1-month follow-up computed such that a higher score indicates greater increase in knowledge.
- Change in Perceived Susceptibility Score [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1 month ]Perceived Susceptibility is a construct from the Health Belief Model defined as an individual's assessment of the risk of acquiring a condition. In the current study it assesses the extent to which the individual feels vulnerable to hearing loss. Perceived Susceptibility was assessed with 5 items in the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Questionnaire (KAB; Saunders et al., 2014). Scores for each item are averaged and transformed onto a scale ranging from -50 to +50, with a higher score indicating greater perceived susceptibility, which according to the Health Belief Model will increase an individual's likelihood of engaging in a health behavior. Change in Perceived Susceptibility was computed as the difference between baseline and 1-month follow-up scores, with a higher score indicating greater perceived susceptibility at follow-up.
- Change in Perceived Severity Score [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1 month ]Perceived Severity is a construct from the Health Belief Model defined as an individual's assessment of the seriousness of the consequences of a condition if it is acquired. In the current study it assesses the extent to which the individual believes that a hearing loss would have negative consequences. Perceived Severity was assessed with 3 items in the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Questionnaire (KAB; Saunders et al., 2014). Scores for each item are averaged and transformed onto a scale ranging from -50 to +50, with a higher score indicating greater perceived severity, which according to the Health Belief Model, will increase an individual's likelihood of engaging in a health behavior. Change in Perceived Severity was computed as the difference between baseline and 1-month follow-up scores, with a higher score indicating greater perceived severity at follow-up.
- Change in Perceived Benefit Score [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1 month ]Perceived Benefit is a construct from the Health Belief Model defined as an individual's assessment of the positive consequences of adopting a health behavior. In the present study that is the belief that hearing well is important. Perceived Benefit was assessed with 7 items in the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Questionnaire (KAB; Saunders et al., 2014). Scores for each item are averaged and transformed onto a scale ranging from -50 to +50, with a higher score indicating greater perceived benefit, which according to the Health Belief Model will increase an individual's likelihood of engaging in a health behavior. Change in Perceived benefit was computed as the difference between baseline and 1-month follow-up scores, with a higher score indicating greater perceived benefit at follow-up.
- Change in Perceived Barriers Score [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1 month ]Perceived Barriers is a construct from the Health Belief Model defined as an individual's assessment of the influences that discourage adoption of a health behavior. In the current study it assesses the extent to which the individual perceives few negative influences to protecting hearing. Perceived Barriers was assessed with 3 items in the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Questionnaire (KAB; Saunders et al., 2014). Scores for each item are averaged and transformed onto a scale ranging from -50 to +50, with a higher score indicating fewer perceived barriers, which according to the Health Belief Model will increase an individual's likelihood of engaging in a health behavior. Change in Perceived Barriers was computed as the difference between baseline and 1-month follow-up scores, with a higher score indicating fewer perceived barriers at follow-up.
- Change in Perceived Self-efficacy Score [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1 month ]Perceived Self-efficacy is a construct from the Health Belief Model defined as an individual's assessment of his/her ability to successfully adopt a health behavior. In the current study it assesses the extent to which the individual believes that he/she has the knowledge and abilities to protect hearing. Perceived Self-efficacy was assessed with 4 items in the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Questionnaire (KAB; Saunders et al., 2014). Scores for each item are averaged and transformed onto a scale ranging from -50 to +50, with a higher score indicating greater perceived self-efficacy, which according to the Health Belief Model, will increase an individual's likelihood of engaging in a health behavior. Change in Perceived Self-efficacy was computed as the difference between baseline and 1-month follow-up scores, with a higher score indicating greater perceived self-efficacy at follow-up.
- realtime log of daily activites via a PDA [ Time Frame: 1 month, 6 months ]
- Questionnaire to assess participant knowledge attitudes, and behaviors towards hearing loss and hearing conservation. [ Time Frame: 1 month, 6 months ]
Original Secondary Outcome:
Information By: VA Office of Research and Development
Dates:
Date Received: December 21, 2009
Date Started: May 2011
Date Completion:
Last Updated: November 19, 2014
Last Verified: November 2014
