Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare (Oct 2024)
Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge, Skills, and Information Needs Pertaining to Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids in Swedish Nursing Homes: A Cross-Sectional Study and Psychometric Evaluation
Abstract
Kaisa Bjuresäter,1 Mattias Bergström Andrén,2,3 Elina Mäki-Torkko,4,5 Agneta Anderzén-Carlsson,6 Per-Inge Carlsson2,5 1Institution of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden; 2Department of Audiology, Central Hospital, Region Värmland, Karlstad, Sweden; 3School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; 4Audiological Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; 5School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; 6University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, SwedenCorrespondence: Kaisa Bjuresäter, Email [email protected]: Hearing loss increases with age and due to increased life expectancy there is an increase in the number of individuals living with hearing loss. Older people with hearing loss residing in nursing homes are often dependent on healthcare professionals to help them with their hearing aids.Objective: The aim of the study was to translate and test the psychometric properties of a Swedish version of a Norwegian questionnaire and to assess healthcare professionals’ self-reported knowledge, experience, skills, competence, and information needs pertaining to residents’ hearing loss and hearing aids in the Swedish context.Materials and Methods: A Norwegian questionnaire was translated and adapted, and thereafter distributed to healthcare professionals in nine nursing homes in mid Sweden between 2020 and 2021, and 313 questionnaires were returned.Results: An exploratory factor analysis demonstrated adequate factorial structure in six factors, satisfying construct validity and internal consistency for the Swedish version. A confirmatory factor analysis showed a satisfactory model fit. Healthcare professionals reported having the skills required for handling hearing aids, but reported lower scores for having received information about hearing aids, taking initiatives to refer residents to hearing healthcare units, and checking for earwax. Registered nurses generally reported lower perceived knowledge and practical skills concerning hearing aids. Seventy-seven percent of the total group reported a need for information regarding hearing aid maintenance.Conclusion: Healthcare professionals reported that the majority of nursing home residents need help with their hearing aids, but only a minority of these professionals had received education on hearing loss and training in hearing aid maintenance. Enrolled nurses and care assistants demonstrated higher levels of competence in handling hearing aids compared to registered nurses. In order to ensure safe and effective care, as well as facilitate communication among older adults with hearing loss, healthcare professionals need appropriate education and training.Keywords: hearing loss, nursing homes, health care professionals, competence, instrument translation, psychometric testing
