To estimate the prevalence of hearing loss among adult patients receiving inpatient care or outpatient hemodialysis treatment in Alberta and explore perceptions about patient-health care worker communication and potential solutions.
Key Findings:
46.0% of participants had hearing loss, with no significant difference between inpatient (46.5%) and hemodialysis (45.3%) groups, indicating a critical need for targeted communication strategies.
Participants with hearing loss reported more communication difficulties with HCWs (18.6%) compared to those without hearing loss (5.6%), highlighting the impact of hearing loss on patient care.
Common suggestions for improving communication included asking about hearing difficulties, involving family, using transparent masks, and rephrasing, which should be implemented in practice.
Interpretation:
Hearing loss is prevalent among patients in hospital and hemodialysis settings, significantly impacting communication with health care workers. This necessitates the implementation of awareness and accommodation strategies to improve patient outcomes.
Limitations:
Findings reflect the study sample and may not represent the broader population due to specific enrollment criteria, including clinical stability and English proficiency.
The requirement for participants to have clinical stability and capacity to consent may limit the applicability of the findings to more diverse patient populations.
Conclusion:
Routine identification and accommodation of patients' hearing needs are crucial to improve communication and health outcomes in clinical settings, emphasizing the need for training and effective communication tools.
