Acceptance of internet-based hearing healthcare among adults who fail a hearing screening

Abstract

Objective: This study measured help-seeking readiness and acceptance of existing internet-based hearing healthcare (IHHC) websites among a group of older adults who failed a hearing screening (Phase 1). It also explored the effects of brief training on participants’ acceptance of IHHC (Phase 2). Study sample: Twenty-seven adults (age 55+) who failed a hearing screening participated. Design: During Phase 1 participants were administered the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) and patient technology acceptance model (PTAM) Questionnaire. During Phase 2 participants were randomly assigned to a training or control group. Training group participants attended an instructional class on existing IHHC websites. The control group received no training. The PTAM questionnaire was re-administered to both groups 4–6 weeks following the initial assessment. Results: The majority of participants were either considering or preparing to do something about their hearing loss, and were generally accepting of IHHC websites (Phase 1). The participants who underwent brief IHHC training reported increases in hearing healthcare knowledge and slight improvements in computer self-efficacy (Phase 2). Conclusions: Older adults who fail hearing screenings may be good candidates for IHHC. The incorporation of a simple user-interface and short-term training may optimize the usability of future IHHC programs for this population.

Key Words:

• Internet hearing healthcare
• auditory rehabilitation
• older adults
• hearing loss
• hearing screening

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to gratefully recognize the Jewish Community Center of Louisville, the Oak and Acorn Intergenerational Center, Oxmore Lodge, Miralea, and the Louisville Free Public Library for their assistance with the execution of this project. We also thank Margaret Barnett, Rebecca Hauff, and Raquel Heacock for assisting with data entry and manuscript editing. We would also like to extend thanks to Dr. Calvin Or for permitting us to reproduce portions of PTAM questionnaire in this publication. Finally, we would like to thank our research participants for generously giving their time and effort. This project was funded by a Basic Grant from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Portions of this research were presented at the Internet and Audiology Meeting (Linköping, Sweden; October 2014), the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology Annual Institute (Philadelphia; 2014), the annual conference of the Kentucky Speech-Language Association (Louisville, February 2015), and the International Adult Aural Rehabilitation Conference (St. Pete Beach, Florida; June 2015).

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Supplementary material available online

The underlying research materials for this article can be accessed at Appendices A–C.