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Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the effect of motivational interviewing (MI) on hearing-aid use. Design: This was a pilot single-blind, randomized parallel-group study conducted in the UK. Study sample: Thirty-seven adult patients who reported using their hearing aid(s) less than four hours per day were randomized to MI combined with Standard Care (MISC) (n = 20), and Standard Care only (SC) (n = 17). Results: Of 220 patients invited, 37 were enrolled giving the recruitment rate of 17%. One participant withdrew giving the retention rate of 97%. It was feasible to combine MI with SC for facilitating hearing-aid use and deliver the intervention with high fidelity in an audiology setting. The measure on hearing-aid use (data logging) one month after interventions favoured the MISC group. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that conducting an RCT on using MI for facilitating hearing-aid use in people who do not use their hearing aids is feasible, and that MI combined with SC may have more positive effects on hearing-aid use compared to SC only.
Acknowledgements
The author thanks his supervisors Deepak Prasher, Nicki Thorogood, and Kiran Nanchahal for their support throughout this study. This report is independent research arising from a Doctoral Research Fellowship (DRF-2011-04-001) supported by the National Institute for Health Research and the Royal Surrey County Hospital. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research, or the Department of Health.
Declaration of interest: The author reports no conflicts of interest.