An ecological approach to hearing-health promotion in workplaces

Abstract

Objective: To develop and assess use, acceptability and feasibility of an ecological hearing conservation programme for workplaces. Design: A school-based public health hearing preservation education programme (Dangerous Decibels®) was adapted for workplaces using the Multi-level Approach to Community Health (MATCH) Model. The programme was delivered in small manufacturing companies and evaluated using a questionnaire before the training and at one week and two-months after training. Study sample: Workers (n = 56) from five small manufacturing companies were recruited. Results: There was a significant improvement in knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of workers at the intrapersonal level; in behaviour motivation and safety culture at the interpersonal and organisational levels; and an overall improvement in hearing-health behaviour after two months post-intervention. Conclusions: The developed programme offers a simple, interactive and theory-based intervention that is well accepted and effective in promoting positive hearing-health behaviour in workplaces.

Keywords:

• Hearing conservation
• behavioural measures
• noise
• health promotion

Acknowledgements

The authors would also like to thank the workers and companies involved in this study for assisting in the data collection process. We thank our colleagues in the Dangerous Decibels groups in New Zealand and internationally.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Funding

Health Research Council of New Zealand administered Accident Compensation Cooperation of New Zealand doctoral scholarship (HRC:10/094 to R.R.).