Did Changes to Adult Hearing Aid Pathways Due to COVID-19 Affect Patient Outcomes? A Service Evaluation.
Am J Audiol
; 31(3S): 876-891, 2022 Sep 21.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2028740
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this study was to determine whether changes to adult hearing aid provision during COVID-19 affected patient outcomes or service efficiency.DESIGN:
A service evaluation compared three cohorts patients who had hearing aid provision prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (the conventional pathway); patients who had hearing aid provision during the initial national lockdown (remote fittings); and patients who had hearing aid provision during the gradual reopening phase (a blended service with both face-to-face and remote service provision). Outcomes measured the effectiveness and efficiency of the service, using the Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit/Difference Profiles (GHABP/DP) and number of follow-up appointments required. Results were assessed using descriptive statistics and error bars, separately for new and existing users. SAMPLE This study included 240 hearing aid users.RESULTS:
Remote fittings adversely impacted the effectiveness of provision for new hearing aid users with a reduction in all GHABP domains. While new users' benefit was equally as good for blended and conventional service provision, blended provision was less efficient and required more follow-up visits. For existing hearing aid users, no differences were seen in GHADP outcomes of different pathways and remote fittings increased service efficiency.CONCLUSIONS:
Remote hearing aid fittings are less effective for new users than hearing aids fitted using standard face-to-face service provision or service provision using a blended model of remote and face-to-face care. Current pathways using a blended model of care are less efficient but equally effective for new hearing aid users compared with provision prior to COVID-19 and result in equivalent patient outcomes in terms of benefit. SUPPLEMENTALMATERIAL:
https//doi.org/10.23641/asha.21067585.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
/
Hearing Aids
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Am J Audiol
Journal subject:
Audiology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
2022_AJA-21-00195
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