Hearing Loss Prevention for Veterans

退伍军人听力损失预防

基本信息

批准号：
8857401
负责人：
Gabrielle Helena Saunders
金额：
--
依托单位：
PORTLAND VA MEDICAL CENTER
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
财政年份：
2010
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2010-04-01 至 2013-09-30
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8857401
关键词：
Age Attitude Auditory Auditory system Behavior Behavioral Communication Computers Country Data Deterioration Ear Education Educational process of instructing Effectiveness Exposure to Frequencies Frustration Goals Gulf War Guns Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Hearing Hearing Aids Housing Intention Internet Intervention Knowledge Korea Left Life Literature Measures Medical center Mental Depression Military Personnel Multimedia Music Noise Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Outcome Pamphlets Patient Self-Report Population Prevalence Prevention Prevention education Prevention program Printing Process Productivity Quality of life Questionnaires Randomized Controlled Trials Rehabilitation therapy Relative (related person)Reporting Risk Self-Administered Series Services Social isolation Societies Soldier System Time Tinnitus Veterans Vietnam World War II abstracting age effect base compare effectiveness computerized cost disability dosimetry experience health care service utilization hearing impairment improved interactive multimedia member post intervention pressure prevent programs rehabilitation service sobriety sound tool ward

项目摘要

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Project Summary/Abstract: Hearing loss and tinnitus are the two most prevalent service-connected disabilities in the VA system for OEF/OIF Veterans, and Veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and during Peacetime. Costs associated with health care utilization, provision of hearing aids, rehabilitation services and reduced productivity for Veterans with hearing loss are substantial, and continue to increase. On a personal level, hearing loss results in communication difficulties, and often contributes to social isolation, frustration and depression. A major cause of hearing impairment is cochlear damage from exposure to high levels of sound. The longer the period of exposure and the more intense the sound pressure level, the greater is the damage that occurs. The damage from noise exposure is cumulative over time, and exacerbates the effects of aging. Veterans, who have been exposed to high levels of sound in the military are therefore highly vulnerable to damage in civilian life, thus they must protect their ears from further noise to avoid hearing loss as they age. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the damage noise can do to the auditory system, and even when they are aware, few choose to use hearing protection. It is therefore critical to educate Veterans about the dangers of noise exposure and the simple actions that can be taken to protect hearing. Our long-range goal is to disseminate an effective hearing loss prevention education program that will help to reduce the prevalence and associated costs of noise induced hearing loss in the Veteran population. Ultimately it is our intention to make the program available to all Veterans, military personnel and other members of the public. We have developed two forms of intervention to educate Veterans about hearing conservation. One is a computerized multimedia interactive program; the other is a printed Hearing Conservation Brochure. Both provide information about hearing, the damage noise can do to the auditory system, the impact hearing loss has on communication, and the use of hearing protection. In this study we will use a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of these two forms of intervention at changing knowledge, attitudes and behaviors toward hearing conservation. Effectiveness will be examined in three ways through assessment of: (1) actual behavioral changes, as evidenced by decreased daily noise exposure as measured with noise dosimetry; (2) reported behavioral changes, as evidenced by decreased daily noise exposure assessed using a real-time log of daily activities and use of hearing protection; and (3) increased knowledge, healthier attitudes and improved intended and actual behavior towards hearing protection, as assessed with a self-report questionnaire. Outcomes will be measured at baseline, immediately following the intervention and six month post-intervention. There are many challenges facing military personnel as they reintegrate into society after leaving military service. Reducing their risk of acquiring noise induced hearing loss and the associated problems with communication, will help to make this transition less difficult and traumatic. This study will provide important information about the relative effectiveness of two different forms of hearing conservation education. In the long term it has the potential to reduce the prevalence and associated costs of hearing loss and tinnitus among Veterans, and will demonstrate that prevention of hearing loss can reduce the need for long-term rehabilitation.

描述（由申请人提供）：项目摘要/摘要：听力损失和耳鸣是VA系统中的两个最普遍的服务连接的残疾，以及来自第二次世界大战，韩国，越南，海湾战争和和平时期的第二次世界大战的退伍军人。与医疗保健利用，助听器提供，康复服务的提供以及降低听力损失的退伍军人的生产率相关的成本是实质上的，并且继续增加。在个人层面上，听力损失会导致沟通困难，并且经常有助于社会隔离，挫败感和沮丧。听力障碍的主要原因是接触高水平的人工耳蜗损害。暴露期间的时间越长，声音压力水平越强烈，损害的损失就越大。随着时间的流逝，噪声暴露的损害是累积的，并加剧了衰老的影响。因此，在军队中暴露于高水平的声音的退伍军人非常容易受到平民生活的损害，因此他们必须保护自己的耳朵免受进一步的噪音，以免随着年龄的增长而避免听力损失。不幸的是，大多数人都不知道噪声对听觉系统的损害可能会产生，即使他们知道，很少有人选择使用听力保护。因此，至关重要的是，教育退伍军人有关噪音暴露的危险以及可以保护听力的简单行动。我们的远程目标是传播有效的预防听力损失教育计划，该计划将有助于减少退伍军人人口的噪声引起的听力损失的普遍性和相关成本。最终，我们打算向所有退伍军人，军事人员和其他公众提供该计划。我们已经开发了两种干预措施，以教育退伍军人有关听力保护的教育。一个是计算机化的多媒体交互式程序；另一个是印刷的听力保护手册。两者都提供有关听力的信息，损坏噪声可以对听觉系统，听力损失对沟通的影响以及使用听力保护的影响。在这项研究中，我们将使用一项随机对照试验来评估这两种干预措施在不断变化的知识，态度和对听力保护的行为方面的有效性。通过评估：（1）实际行为变化将以三种方式检查有效性，这是通过噪声剂量测定的每日噪声暴露减少所证明的；（2）报告的行为变化，这是通过日常活动的实时日志和使用听力保护的实时日志评估的日常噪声暴露所证明的；（3）通过自我报告调查表评估，提高了知识，更健康的态度，改善了对听力保护的预期和实际行为。在干预后和干预后六个月后，将在基线时测量结果。军事人员在离开服兵役后重新融入社会时面临许多挑战。降低他们获得噪声引起的听力损失以及与沟通相关的问题的风险，将有助于使这种过渡减少困难和创伤。这项研究将提供有关两种不同形式的听力保护教育的相对有效性的重要信息。从长远来看，它有可能减少退伍军人中听力损失和耳鸣的患病率和相关成本，并将证明预防听力损失可以减少长期康复的需求。