Effectiveness of group versus individual hearing aid visits

Margaret P Collins; Pamela E Souza; Sami O'Neill; Bevan Yueh

doi:10.1682/JRRD.2007.02.0029

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Effectiveness of group versus individual hearing aid visits

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Effectiveness of group versus individual hearing aid visits

Margaret P Collins, Pamela E Souza, Sami O'Neill and Bevan Yueh

Journal of rehabilitation research and development, Vol.44(5), pp.739-750

01/01/2007

DOI: 10.1682/JRRD.2007.02.0029

PMID: 17943685

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Abstract

Demand for hearing aid services in the Veterans Health Administration increased over 300% from 1996 to 2005, challenging the delivery of timely, high-quality care. Using group visits may help meet these needs, but whether this approach would still provide high-quality rehabilitation is unclear. This study determined whether group visits worsen hearing aid outcomes. It included a retrospective observational cohort in veterans seeking hearing aids at the Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System from September 2004 to March 2005, when the clinic was using both individual and group visits. Medical records were reviewed for all new hearing aid patients seen during this period. Hearing-related outcome questionnaires were compared between patients seen for individual versus group fitting and/or follow-up visits. Results revealed that hearing thresholds were similar between patients seen individually and in groups. Of 74 patients who returned self-administered questionnaires after the follow-up, those who received both fitting and follow-up in a group format reported similar hearing handicap and better hearing-related function, satisfaction, and adherence than patients who received individual visits. Group visits did not appear to yield worse outcomes in this nonrandomized retrospective chart review. Definitive statements must await randomized comparisons.

Aged

Female

Follow-Up Studies

Health Services Needs and Demand - utilization

Health Services Research - standards

Hearing Aids - standards

Hearing Loss - psychology

Hearing Loss - rehabilitation

Humans

Male

Office Visits

Outcome Assessment (Health Care) - methods

Patient Compliance - statistics & numerical data

Patient Education as Topic

Patient Satisfaction

Prosthesis Fitting - methods

Retrospective Studies

Surveys and Questionnaires

Time Factors

United States

Veterans

Details

Title: Subtitle: Effectiveness of group versus individual hearing aid visits
Creators: Margaret P Collins - Health Services Research and Development Service, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA. margaret.collins@va.gov
Pamela E Souza
Sami O'Neill
Bevan Yueh
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of rehabilitation research and development, Vol.44(5), pp.739-750
DOI: 10.1682/JRRD.2007.02.0029
PMID: 17943685
NLM abbreviation: J Rehabil Res Dev
ISSN: 0748-7711
eISSN: 1938-1352
Language: English
Date published: 01/01/2007
Academic Unit: Otolaryngology
Record Identifier: 9984966753802771

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