Research Protocol-Developing strategies to improve accessibility of hearing health services for people from diverse ethnic communities

Piers Dawes, Mansoureh Nickbakht*, Nerina Scarinci, John Newall, Cailyn Furze, Mehwish Nizar, Barbra Timmer, Teresa Y. C. Ching, Benjamin Harris-Roxas, Emma Scanlan, Patricia Van Buynder, Monique Waite, Marc Orlando, Jan-Louis Kruger, Katie Ekberg, Mayada Dib, Jan Ginis, Margo Barr, Christopher J. Armitage, Louise Hickson (Photographer)

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Non-traditional research outputWeb publication/site

Abstract

Untreated hearing loss negatively impacts communication, quality of life, social engagement, and physical and mental well-being. People from diverse ethnic communities are more at risk of hearing loss, less likely to seek hearing services, and less satisfied with healthcare services, challenging health-related sustainable development goals. A 2021 review of the Australian Government-funded Hearing Services Program identified hearing health inequality among diverse ethnic communities and recommended researchers address shortfalls in service provision. This research protocol describes a project to inform the development of strategies to facilitate access to hearing care. The objectives include (a) identifying barriers and facilitators to accessing and using hearing services for ethnic communities in Australia, (b) identifying key culturally responsive behaviours for hearing care professionals working with diverse ethnic communities (c) identifying barriers for professional spoken language interpreters working with clinicians in hearing clinics, (d) assessing readability and usability of online hearing health information, (e) co-developing strategies for culturally responsive hearing care for hearing care professionals, and (f) implementing and evaluating these strategies
Original languageEnglish
Media of outputOnline
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

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