TY - JOUR
T1 - Older adults’ perceptions of current and future hearing healthcare services in Australia, England, US and Canada
AU - McMahon, Catherine M.
AU - Mosley, Cornetta L.
AU - Pichora-Fuller, M. Kathleen
AU - Davis, Adrian C.
AU - Baylor, Carolyn R.
AU - Yorkston, Kathryn M.
AU - Tremblay, Kelly L.
N1 - Copyright the Author(s) 2021. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.
PY - 2021/12/2
Y1 - 2021/12/2
N2 - Objective: A high prevalence of hearing loss in older adults contrasts with a small proportion of people who seek help. Emerging developments in hearing healthcare (HHC) could reduce costs but may not increase access. This study evaluated older adults’ perceptions of current and future HHC services in Australia, England, US and Canada to explore potential levers and system improvements. Methods: Semi-structured focus groups (n = 47) were conducted, and data were analysed using a directed content analysis. Participants were adults 60 years and older with a) no hearing problems; b) hearing problems and hearing aid use; and c) hearing problems and no hearing aid use. Results: Perceived barriers, facilitators and preferences were largely consistent across countries, with stigma and trust in HHC being the barriers most often discussed. Conclusion: Although cost and access were consistently deemed important, there may be limited change in help-seeking and HHC uptake unless the key barriers of trust and stigma are addressed. When seeking to undertake transformative change to healthcare it is important to engage recipients of care to understand existing barriers and coproduce a user-centered solution.
AB - Objective: A high prevalence of hearing loss in older adults contrasts with a small proportion of people who seek help. Emerging developments in hearing healthcare (HHC) could reduce costs but may not increase access. This study evaluated older adults’ perceptions of current and future HHC services in Australia, England, US and Canada to explore potential levers and system improvements. Methods: Semi-structured focus groups (n = 47) were conducted, and data were analysed using a directed content analysis. Participants were adults 60 years and older with a) no hearing problems; b) hearing problems and hearing aid use; and c) hearing problems and no hearing aid use. Results: Perceived barriers, facilitators and preferences were largely consistent across countries, with stigma and trust in HHC being the barriers most often discussed. Conclusion: Although cost and access were consistently deemed important, there may be limited change in help-seeking and HHC uptake unless the key barriers of trust and stigma are addressed. When seeking to undertake transformative change to healthcare it is important to engage recipients of care to understand existing barriers and coproduce a user-centered solution.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85121930696&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.17061/phrp3152128
DO - 10.17061/phrp3152128
M3 - Article
C2 - 34873611
AN - SCOPUS:85121930696
SN - 2204-2091
VL - 31
SP - 1
EP - 8
JO - Public Health Research and Practice
JF - Public Health Research and Practice
IS - 5
M1 - e3152128
ER -