Salus at Drexel University Drexel University Elkins Park, Pennsylvania
Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Abstract: This pilot study assessed the effectiveness of an online application called Dangerous Decibels® dBZone! on immediate and long-term changes in knowledge, attitudes and intended behaviors regarding exposure to dangerous sound levels and appropriate use of hearing protective strategies. A total of 38 participants, aged 8 – 12 years, fully completed the study. Quantitative data from survey responses were completed at baseline, immediate-post and 3-months post. The dBZone! has been shown to be a useful technology-based platform for the promotion of short- and long-term positive changes in hearing health knowledge in youth. Future direction and applications will be discussed.
Summary: Rationale An estimated 5.9 million youth in the U.S., between the ages of 9 -19 years, have audiometric hearing thresholds suggesting early NIHL (Meinke, 2020). Although the use of technology to promote healthy behavior has been successful for other health conditions (Burbank et al., 2015; Lana, Faya-Ornia, & López, 2014; Pretlow, Stock, Allison, & Roeger, 2015), limited research has been conducted in its efficacy in hearing protective behavior change based on health communication science. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the effectiveness of using an online application, dBZone!, on immediate and long-term changes in knowledge, attitudes and intended behaviors regarding dangerous sound level exposure and appropriate use of hearing protective strategies.
Methods Thirty-eight participants from 8 -12 years met inclusion and exclusion criteria and completed the study. Quantitative data was collected and analyzed to assess the effectiveness of dBZone! on changes in knowledge, attitudes and intended behavior. The experimental group participated in dBZone! and the control group participated in BAM! Dining Decisions. All participants completed questionnaires at baseline, immediate-post and 3-months post. To analyze the difference in the proportion of participants with correct answers at baseline compared to immediate post and baseline to the 3-month post within each group, the McNemar’s test was used. To evaluate the change from baseline responses to immediate post responses and baseline responses to 3 months post responses, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used. A two-sided t-test was performed to determine if there was a significant difference between the total mean scores of the experimental and control groups at baseline, post, and 3 months. An alpha of < .05 was considered statistically significant.
Results Participants in the experimental group, showed statistically significant (p < . 001 to p = .02) improvements in knowledge at 3 months (p= .01 to p= .02). Only one of seven attitude questions showed a significant improvement (p= .003) at immediate post dBZone! and at 3 months post (p= .03). Significant change was not observed for intended behavior questions for either group. Significant improvement was observed in the experimental group for total mean knowledge scores, at post-activity (p < .001) and sustained at 3 months (p= .03). However, significance between groups were not observed for total mean attitude scores. A significant difference between the two groups was obtained for total mean intended behavior scores on post (p= .04) but this was not maintained at 3 months.
Conclusions The dBZone! is a useful technology-based platform for the promotion of short- and long-term positive changes in hearing health knowledge. Future revisions to the dBZone! should consider peer interactions, proper earplug insertion demonstrations and peer videos, which may change attitudes and further strengthen positive changes in intended behaviors. Booster activities may be necessary to reinforce changes in the long term.
Brief Summary of Clinical Takeaways: Pediatric audiologists must include hearing protective strategies during counseling with youth. The use of headphones to listen to loud music and riding in a car with loud music playing are commonly reported noisy activities in youth. The dBZone! is a technology-based platform which promotes positive changes in hearing health knowledge.
Assumptions Hearing loss prevention Noise-induced hearing loss
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this session, the participant will be able to explain the consequences of NIHL in school-aged children.
Upon completion of this session, the participant will be able to identify theoretical models which are applied to hearing loss prevention programs.
Upon completion of this session, the participant will be able to discuss components of the Dangerous Decibels ® dBZone! and how it may be incorporated in schools, clinics, or by parents at home.
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