Other Titles

Effects of a nurse-led hearing intervention on health outcomes in older adults with hearing loss: A randomized controlled trial [Poster Title]

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the effects of a nurse-led hearing intervention on communication ability, loneliness, depression, quality of life and hearing aid satisfaction in older adults with hearing loss.

Methods: This was a single-blind, parallel-arm, randomized controlled trial with a repeated measure design. Older adults with hearing loss (N =57) were recruited from an otolaryngology clinic of a university-affiliated hospital in northern Taiwan from September 2021 to October 2023. Participants were randomly allocated to either the intervention, a nurse-led 10-week hearing loss management program (n = 28) or wait-listed as controls (n = 29). The program included (1) ten 60-minute one-on-one health education sessions on hearing loss management strategies; (2) a printed booklet on hearing loss; (3) a consultation with the communication partners of the participants; and (4) weekly follow-up calls. The effect of the intervention was assessed by comparing baseline (T0) measures of communication ability, loneliness, depression, quality of life and hearing aid satisfaction with measures at 3-months (T1) and 6-months (T2) for the intervention group compared with controls. A generalized estimating equation model was used to examine the effects of time, group, and interactions.

Results: The intervention group was statistically significantly younger compared with controls (z = −2.203, p = 0.028). Statistically significant improvements were seen in the intervention group for communication ability (β = −12.192, 95% CI: −17.12 to −7.26, p < 0.001), quality of life (β = 6.655, 95% CI: 0.43 to 11.71, p = 0.046) and hearing aid satisfaction (β = 5.807, 95% CI: 3.05 to 8.56, p < 0.001) compared to the control group at T1. Significant improvements in communication ability (β = −9.905, 95% CI: −15.66 to −4.15, p < 0.001) and hearing aid satisfaction (β = 3.466, 95% CI: 0.43 to 6.50, p = 0.025) were maintained at T2. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups for loneliness or depression.

Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that a nurse-led hearing intervention was effective for improving communication ability, enhancing quality of life and increasing hearing aid satisfaction. Offering older adults with hearing loss the opportunity to participate in similar programs could improve their well-being.

Notes

References:

Lin, F. R., Pike, J. R., Albert, M. S., Arnold, M., Burgard, S., Chisolm, T., Couper, D., Deal, J. A., Goman, A. M., & Glynn, N. W. (2023). Hearing intervention versus health education control to reduce cognitive decline in older adults with hearing loss in the USA (ACHIEVE): A multicentre, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 402(10404), 786-797. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01406-X

Ellis, S., Sheik Ali, S., & Ahmed, W. (2021). A review of the impact of hearing interventions on social isolation and loneliness in older people with hearing loss. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 278(12), 4653-4661. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-06847-w

Description

A nurse-led hearing loss management intervention was effective for improving communication ability, enhancing quality of life and increasing hearing aid satisfaction.

Author Details

Ya-Chuan Tseng, PhD, RN; Meei-Fang Lou, PhD, RN

Sigma Membership

Lambda Beta at-Large

Type

Poster

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Randomized Controlled Trial

Research Approach

Quantitative Research

Keywords:

Public and Community Health, Long-term Care, Hearing Loss, Aged, Hearing Aid Satisfaction, Depression

Conference Name

36th International Nursing Research Congress

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Seattle, Washington, USA

Conference Year

2025

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Click on the above link to access the poster.

Share

COinS
 

Effects of a Nurse-Led Hearing Loss Management Intervention For Older Adults on Health Outcomes

Seattle, Washington, USA

Purpose: To examine the effects of a nurse-led hearing intervention on communication ability, loneliness, depression, quality of life and hearing aid satisfaction in older adults with hearing loss.

Methods: This was a single-blind, parallel-arm, randomized controlled trial with a repeated measure design. Older adults with hearing loss (N =57) were recruited from an otolaryngology clinic of a university-affiliated hospital in northern Taiwan from September 2021 to October 2023. Participants were randomly allocated to either the intervention, a nurse-led 10-week hearing loss management program (n = 28) or wait-listed as controls (n = 29). The program included (1) ten 60-minute one-on-one health education sessions on hearing loss management strategies; (2) a printed booklet on hearing loss; (3) a consultation with the communication partners of the participants; and (4) weekly follow-up calls. The effect of the intervention was assessed by comparing baseline (T0) measures of communication ability, loneliness, depression, quality of life and hearing aid satisfaction with measures at 3-months (T1) and 6-months (T2) for the intervention group compared with controls. A generalized estimating equation model was used to examine the effects of time, group, and interactions.

Results: The intervention group was statistically significantly younger compared with controls (z = −2.203, p = 0.028). Statistically significant improvements were seen in the intervention group for communication ability (β = −12.192, 95% CI: −17.12 to −7.26, p < 0.001), quality of life (β = 6.655, 95% CI: 0.43 to 11.71, p = 0.046) and hearing aid satisfaction (β = 5.807, 95% CI: 3.05 to 8.56, p < 0.001) compared to the control group at T1. Significant improvements in communication ability (β = −9.905, 95% CI: −15.66 to −4.15, p < 0.001) and hearing aid satisfaction (β = 3.466, 95% CI: 0.43 to 6.50, p = 0.025) were maintained at T2. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups for loneliness or depression.

Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that a nurse-led hearing intervention was effective for improving communication ability, enhancing quality of life and increasing hearing aid satisfaction. Offering older adults with hearing loss the opportunity to participate in similar programs could improve their well-being.