International survey of audiologists during the COVID-19 pandemic: effects on the workplace.
Int J Audiol
; 61(4): 265-272, 2022 04.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1272928
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
This study surveyed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the audiology workplace.DESIGN:
The study used a cross-sectional survey design for audiologists across the globe (n = 337) using an online survey (June-August 2020) focussing on changes to the workplace during the pandemic.RESULTS:
Participants represented varied work settings and audiology services. Only a third (31.5%) provided psychosocial support, which may be important during the pandemic, as part of their services. Almost all (97%) audiologists reported changes to their workplace, with 76.4% reporting reduced caseloads during the COVID-19 pandemic. When rating their current and anticipated work conditions, 38.7% reported reduced working hours although only 13.8% anticipated reduced working hours in 6-months' time. Audiologists ranked services such as access to hearing assessment, hearing device adjustment and maintenance, and general audiological support as being more important during the pandemic than services such as psychosocial, emotional and tinnitus support.CONCLUSIONS:
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant disruptions to audiological practice that highlights the need to adapt and incorporate new audiological practices including telehealth, to ensure patients have continued access to care and clinics remain sustainable during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and recovery phase.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Audiologists
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Int J Audiol
Journal subject:
Audiology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
14992027.2021.1937348
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