Clinical Trial: Test of Hearing Health Education Programs for Farm and Rural Youth

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Test of Hearing Health Education Programs for Farm and Rural Youth

Brief Summary: Farm and rural youth have frequent exposure to hazardous noise on the farm and recreationally, and have an increased prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). There is a lack of programs to prepare this high-risk population to use hearing conservation strategies. This randomly-controlled trial of innovative community-based interventions is designed to compare effectiveness and sustainability of approaches to increase youths' use of hearing conservation strategies. Consistent use of hearing conservation strategies is expected to reduce rates of NIHL and other negative effects of high noise exposure, and improve quality of life in this high-risk and underserved group.

Detailed Summary:

Farm and rural youth have frequent exposure to hazardous noise on the farm and recreationally, and have an increased prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss. An estimated 2 million children and adolescents younger than 20 years of age are exposed to farm noise hazards as farm residents, farm family workers, hired workers, children of migrant or seasonal workers, or farm visitors. This noise exposure begins from an early age, and is compounded by frequent exposure to recreational noise (e.g., all-terrain vehicles and firearms). Farm youth also have an increased prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss, a permanent and irreversible condition negatively impacting quality of life of the affected person, as well as their family members.

Although primary prevention offers the best opportunity for success, farm and rural youth are rarely served by an Occupational Safety and Health Administration-mandated or other hearing conservation program. Although previous tests of limited educational programs to promote hearing conservation among small groups of farm youth have demonstrated short-term increases in hearing protector use (or intent to use), their impact on this population has been limited by program reach and sustainability.

The purpose of this project is to test innovative hearing health education programs delivered to a large target group and to determine the effectiveness and sustainability of these programs in promoting hearing health among farm and rural youth. Specifically, this project includes: a) an interactive Safety Days program alone, b) an interactive Safety Days program followed by an Internet-based booster, and c) a no-intervention control. This test is designed to determine the most effective and sustainable approach to hearing health education among farm and rural youth. Only with effective and sustainable he
Sponsor: University of Michigan

Current Primary Outcome: Self-reported use of hearing conservation strategies (i.e., using hearing protection devices, walking away from hazardous noise, or turning down sources of hazardous noise) when in high noise [ Time Frame: 12 months ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

• Cost effectiveness [ Time Frame: 12 months ]
  Costs association with program delivery (i.e., instruction time, travel time)
• Sustainability [ Time Frame: 12 months ]
  Key stakeholders' ratings of program capacity to maintain program and its benefits over time using scale prepared for this purpose

Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: University of Michigan

Dates:
Date Received: June 9, 2015
Date Started: February 17, 2015
Date Completion:
Last Updated: February 23, 2017
Last Verified: February 2017