老年听力损失患者使用助听器相关治疗负担的定性研究

文献信息

中文摘要

背景： 治疗负担可能影响患者执行任务或遵循医疗保健提供者建议的能力。评估使用和维护助听器的负担有助于识别影响患者依从性的因素。本研究还考察了老年人为克服这一负担所获得和偏好的支持。这使医疗保健提供者能够更好地理解该负担，并促进老年人更好地坚持使用助听器。
方法： 我们开展了一项定性研究，采用半结构化访谈，从King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center（KFSH&RC）听力门诊招募老年人。参与者已被诊断为听力损失并正在使用助听器。数据收集持续至达到主题饱和。数据采用主题分析进行分析。
结果： 本研究纳入17名年龄62-80岁的参与者。从访谈中识别出四个主要主题：经历听力损失、助听器使用的障碍、助听器使用的促进因素以及支持需求。子主题强调了与听力损失和助听器使用相关的负担；除感知到的助听器使用局限性外，还提到了身体、心理和经济负担。另一方面，助听器在可听度和促进社会参与方面的感知益处被确定为有效使用助听器的促进因素，因为它们起到激励作用。研究发现，持续使用助听器有助于适应。为促进自主性，参与者更偏好助听器使用的专业支持而非家庭支持。研究结果强调需要个体化支持、改进设备功能以及可及的听力保健，以增强老年人的助听器采用和用户满意度。
结论： 我们的研究识别出若干影响老年人坚持使用助听器的因素。所识别的障碍包括身体、心理和经济负担。助听器使用和护理方面的困难被视为可能限制助听器使用的负担。本研究参与者更偏好来自医疗保健提供者的支持而非家庭支持。该研究强调需要在听力保健中改进支持和咨询。此外，该研究强调需要改进助听器技术，并需要与医疗保健提供者建立可及的直接沟通渠道。

英文摘要

BACKGROUND: Treatment burden can affect patients' ability to carry out tasks or follow healthcare providers' recommendations. Evaluating the burden of using and maintaining hearing aids can help identify factors that affect patient compliance. This study also examined the support that older adults receive and prefer to overcome this burden. This enables healthcare providers to better understand the burden and promote improved adherence to hearing aid use among older adults.
METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with older adults recruited from the Audiology Clinic at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH&RC). Participants had been diagnosed with hearing loss and were using hearing aids. Data collection continued until thematic saturation was reached. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
RESULTS: This study included 17 participants aged 62-80 years. Four main themes were identified from the interviews: experiencing hearing loss, barriers to hearing aid use, facilitators to hearing aid use, and support needs. The subtheme highlighted the burden associated with hearing loss and hearing aid use; physical, psychological, and financial burdens were cited, in addition to the perceived limitations of hearing aid use. On the other hand, the perceived benefit of hearing aids in terms of audibility and promoting social engagement was identified as a facilitator to effective use of hearing aids, as they act as motivators. Consistent use of hearing aids was found to help in acclimatization. Professional support for hearing aid use is preferred over family support to promote autonomy. Findings highlight the need for individualized support, improved device features, and accessible hearing healthcare to enhance hearing aid adoption and user satisfaction in older adults.
CONCLUSION: Our research has identified several factors that affect adherence to hearing aid use in older adults. The barriers identified included physical, psychological and financial burdens. Difficulty with hearing aid use and care was cited as a burden that can limit hearing aid use. Participants in our study preferred support from their healthcare providers over their family. The study highlighted the need for improved support and counselling in hearing healthcare. Furthermore, the study highlighted the need for improved hearing aid technology and for accessible, direct communication channels with their healthcare providers.