Title of Research
Preventive Strategies for Occupational Hearing Loss: An Integrative Literature Review
Start Date
16-11-2018 9:30 AM
End Date
16-11-2018 11:30 AM
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Occupational hearing loss is the third most common chronic condition in the US, and most commonly affects manufacturing industry workers. Objective: This integrative literature review evaluates qualitative and quantitative research on prevention strategies for occupational hearing loss in manufacturing industries. The objective of this review is to determine which prevention strategies have been described in the literature, and which strategies have been shown to be effective and evidence-based. Methods: The Health Belief Model was used as a conceptual framework to guide this review. A thorough literature search including articles studying adult manufacturing industry workers using the PubMed and CINAHL databases was performed. A data matrix table was created for data analysis. Results: 17 articles, including international studies, that fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria, were analyzed. Various risk factors like advancing age, male gender, noise exposure and mutations in genes like EAY4 were associated with higher noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Although in-center audiograms were the most commonly used screening method for NIHL in occupational settings, at-home screening methods like Earcheck may be an easy screening tool for NIHL. Hearing protective device (HPD) use is a very effective method to prevention NIHL, and appropriate education in the HPD use plays a pivotal role in ensuring this protection. Conclusion: Screening audiograms and HPD use with appropriate associated education are important evidence-based prevention strategies for occupational hearing loss. However additional research in other avenues like genetic and environmental risk factors and at home screening for NIHL strategies is warranted.
Included in
Preventive Strategies for Occupational Hearing Loss: An Integrative Literature Review
Abstract
Background: Occupational hearing loss is the third most common chronic condition in the US, and most commonly affects manufacturing industry workers. Objective: This integrative literature review evaluates qualitative and quantitative research on prevention strategies for occupational hearing loss in manufacturing industries. The objective of this review is to determine which prevention strategies have been described in the literature, and which strategies have been shown to be effective and evidence-based. Methods: The Health Belief Model was used as a conceptual framework to guide this review. A thorough literature search including articles studying adult manufacturing industry workers using the PubMed and CINAHL databases was performed. A data matrix table was created for data analysis. Results: 17 articles, including international studies, that fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria, were analyzed. Various risk factors like advancing age, male gender, noise exposure and mutations in genes like EAY4 were associated with higher noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Although in-center audiograms were the most commonly used screening method for NIHL in occupational settings, at-home screening methods like Earcheck may be an easy screening tool for NIHL. Hearing protective device (HPD) use is a very effective method to prevention NIHL, and appropriate education in the HPD use plays a pivotal role in ensuring this protection. Conclusion: Screening audiograms and HPD use with appropriate associated education are important evidence-based prevention strategies for occupational hearing loss. However additional research in other avenues like genetic and environmental risk factors and at home screening for NIHL strategies is warranted.