Does the presentation of audiometric test data have a positive effect on the perceptions of workplace noise and noise exposure avoidance?

Research and 'common knowledge' has for many years accepted that education and feedback supplied to individuals during and immediately after workplace health assessments provides valuable information to workers about their health. Further, if more relevant and detailed information could be supplied then awareness and preventative action may increase proportionately. This research carried out with a rural Australian population has shown that preventative action did not increase in proportion to a corresponding increase in the amount and variety of information provided in connection with hearing health status. Two research groups underwent hearing tests, both with pure tone audiometry (PTA) while the second group also underwent otoacoustic emission (OAE) testing. Test results were presented to the subjects at the conclusion of their test session. An analysis of questionnaire responses at six week and twelve months follow up showed that more information did not result in increased preventative action. Barriers seem to exist such that individuals feel that they are not able to effectively act to reduce overall noise exposure. While self-efficacy initially increased, it declined to close to its initial value over the longer period. Other measures such as perceived susceptibility to hearing loss and the benefits of exposure reduction significantly increased and remained at the same increased level after twelve months. So, while overall awareness of noise and the risks of exposure were increased after both types of hearing test there was no increased hearing health benefit due to additional testing and hearing information.

Impacto del programa de educación sexual: adolescencia, tiempo de decisiones / Impact of the sexual education program: adolescence, time for decision

Se desarrolla un programa de educación sexual llamado Adolescencia Tiempo de Decisiones en dos establecimientos escolares en la Región Metropolitana, durante 24 meses y se compara sus resultados con otros tres establecimientos escolares sin educación sexual. Es un estudio de intervención en una cohorte grupal controlada de escolares adolescentes. El seguimiento se hace con escuesta anónimas que abarcan 4.448,4.123 y 4.057 escolares evaluados antes de iniciar el programa y a los 21 meses y 33 meses de programa respectivamente. Las escuelas con programa además contaron con consultoras locales y atención clínica confidencial en un Centro Universitario Especializado en adolescente (CEMERA). En los establecimientos escolares intervenidos aumentaron significativamente los conocimientos en sexualidad, reproducción, anticoncepción y Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual, siendo más evidente entre los adolescentes sin relaciones sexuales al final del estudio. Se retrasa el inicio de las relaciones sexuales en los colegios intervenidos y los alumnos y alumnas que deciden continuar con relaciones sexuales previenen más el embarazo. Se produjo un descenso significativo de los embarazos en los colegios intervenidos especialmente de los abortos obligados por sus padres, apoderados o personas que influencian sus vidas. Hubo importantes diferencias de género en los hallazgos del estudio y se considera que es un aporte científicamente validado, para las políticas públicas en educación sexual y prevención del embarazo en adolescentes escolares