156 Social and Health Determinants Influencing Adherence and Access to Treatment for Hearing Loss in Puerto Rican Adults

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The main objectives are to obtain a preliminary profile of the adult Puerto Rican patient with hearing impairment and to identify the factors, variables and barriers that thess patients face accessing intervention and adscribing to it. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Adults between the ages of 21 and 64 years old were surveyed using a questionnaire with items guided to obtain information regarding their socio-demographic and health characteristics and the variables associated to treatment access and adherence to the intervention plan. A descriptive approach will be used to create the sample profile and an age stratified analysis will be used to interpret the empirical data. The identified variables associated to treatment access and adherence will be identified and analyzed to study if there is a possible geographic zone and socio-economical association. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Preliminary results suggest that regardless of the subject’s age and degree of hearing loss their socio-economical strata is a decisive factor in treatment adherence as well as the lack of medical insurance coverage for therapy, hearing prosthesis and assistive technology for the hearing-impaired. Access to service was found to be a barrier associated to the subjecs geographical place of origin. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Research findings suggest that there is an association between the socio-economical status of the Puerto Rican hearing impaired patient, the lack of medical coverage and the level of treatment adherence. Patients from a lower socio-economical status and remote towns exhibited less adherence which points to a health disparity for this population.