Task Sharing in Hearing Care: Putting Principles Into Practice to Advance Access to Hearing Care. (16th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marrone, Nicole; Wong, Aileen; Ingram, Maia; Piper, Rosie; Carvajal, Scott; Colina, Sonia
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 4(2020)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 807
• Page End: 807
• Publication Date: 2020-12-16
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2932
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Task sharing, through models such as community health workers (CHWs), is considered an efficacious and cost-effective approach to extending access, addressing disparities, and building capacity. Increasingly, task sharing is recognized as a promising approach within sensory health. This session will share results from an NIH-funded trial of a first-in-kind CHW-delivered intervention along the U.S.-Mexico border. Trained CHWs provided a 5-week group aural rehabilitation program that included education and counseling on age-related hearing loss. A total of 136 Spanish-speaking older adults with hearing loss were randomized. Those in the immediate treatment group reported significantly greater use of communication strategies post-intervention, which was maintained over 1 year. Participants were more likely to report taking action on their hearing at 6 months (OR:1.56, p=0.001) and 1 year (OR:1.82, p=0.001). Building upon lessons learned, including post-intervention focus groups, the presentation will share guiding principles on the application of task sharing to support sensory health.