![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
Objective: To use the self-determination theory of motivation to investigate whether different forms of motivation were associated with adults’ decisions whether or not to adopt hearing aids. Design: A quantitative approach was used in this cohort study. Participants completed the treatment self-regulation questionnaire (TSRQ), which measured autonomous and controlled motivation for hearing aid adoption. Sociodemographic data and audiometric information were also obtained. Study sample: Participants were 253 adults who had sought information about their hearing but had not consulted with a hearing professional. Participants were categorized as hearing aid adopters if they had been fitted with hearing aids 4–6 months after completing the TSRQ, and as non-adopters if they had not. Results: Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine associations between autonomous and controlled motivation, sociodemographic and audiometric variables, and hearing aid adoption (n = 160). Three factors were significantly associated with increased hearing aid adoption when the influence of other variables was accounted for: autonomous motivation, perceived hearing difficulty, and poorer hearing. Controlled motivation was not found to influence hearing aid adoption. Conclusion: These empirical findings that link autonomous motivation to decisions of hearing help-seekers have implications for the ways practitioners may evaluate motivation and could inform discussions with clients about hearing aid adoption.
Notes
Acknowledgements
This research is part of the principal author's PhD, and was supported through the University of Queensland School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. The authors would like to thank Dr Asad Khan from the University of Queensland School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences who provided statistical guidance. The authors also wish to acknowledge the support of Australian Hearing, National Hearing Care, and John Pearcy Audiology for their assistance with participant recruitment, and thank the participants for their individual contributions to the study.
Declaration of interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. No external financial assistance was received for this study. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.
Notes
1. The Australian Government Hearing Services Program subsidizes the provision of hearing services to eligible Australians. More information: http://www.hearingservices.gov.au