Objective:

To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured hearing loss education program for visiting nurses caring for older adults.

Approach:

Key Findings:

• Nurses in the intervention group were over eight times more likely to implement hearing screening compared to controls.
• The intervention improved knowledge and confidence in hearing care practices.
• Statistically significant improvements were observed in all six confidence measures related to hearing care.

Interpretation:

The structured educational intervention significantly enhanced the implementation of hearing screening among visiting nurses, addressing a critical gap in geriatric care.

Limitations:

• Baseline knowledge was slightly higher in the intervention group.
• Facilities in the intervention group were more likely to employ speech therapists.
• The study was conducted in a single Japanese prefecture, limiting generalizability.
• Lack of blinding and use of investigator-developed outcome measures.

Conclusion:

Integrating structured hearing care training into visiting nurse education can improve hearing screening uptake, addressing untreated hearing loss in older adults.

Sources:

• PLOS One
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