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Primary care intervention programme to improve early detection of hearing loss in the elderly

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2012

N Bentur ,
L Valinsky ,
J Lemberger ,
Y Ben Moshe  and
A D Heymann
N Bentur
Affiliation:
Center for Research on Aging, Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute, Jerusalem, Israel
L Valinsky
Affiliation:
Medical Division, Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel Aviv, Israel Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Jerusalem, Israel
J Lemberger
Affiliation:
Medical Division, Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel Aviv, Israel
Y Ben Moshe
Affiliation:
The Association for the Planning and Development of Services for the Aged in Israel, Jerusalem, Israel
A D Heymann*
Affiliation:
Medical Division, Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel Aviv, Israel Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Jerusalem, Israel
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Anthony Heymann, Maccabi Healthcare Services, 27 Ha Mered St, Tel Aviv 68125, Israel Fax: 97235143920 E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective:

To improve audiology screening in general practice, using an intervention programme aiming to empower older adults and their general practitioners.

Methods:

We conducted a quasi-experimental community study comparing 206 patients and two control groups (the first being 101 people registered with the same general practitioner, and the second 87 people registered with another general practitioner). Outcome measures were: rates of hearing tests in the six months before interview, and screening recommendation by the general practitioner.

Results:

Amongst patients, there was a significant increase in numbers undergoing a hearing test, from 19 per cent before the intervention to 49 per cent two years later, while in the two control groups there was little change. Twenty-two per cent of patients and 19 per cent of the first control group reported that their physicians suggested undergoing a hearing test; the second control group subjects (whose general practitioners received no specific educational intervention) showed no change.

Conclusion:

The two crucial factors for improving hearing screening uptake in the elderly are general practitioner education and patient empowerment.

Keywords

Hearing LossMass ScreeningPublic HealthGeriatric Health Services
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 126 , Issue 6 , June 2012 , pp. 574 - 579
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2012

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