Clinical Otologic Profile, Awareness, Knowledge, and Literacy on Hearing Health Among Employees of the Philippine General Hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32412/pjohns.v41i1.2619Keywords:
clinical otologic profile, tertiary hospital employees, Philippines, hearing health, hearing literacyAbstract
Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of hearing loss and otologic diseases and to establish the awareness, knowledge, and literacy towards hearing care among University of the Philippines –Philippine General Hospital employees.
Methods: A non-probability voluntary sampling design included 235 employees regardless of contract-type of the Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila. Outsourced personnel were excluded. The participants were interviewed with a pretested questionnaire to assess the knowledge, awareness, and prioritization of hearing health. Otoscopic assessment was done and hearing was evaluated using pure tone audiometry (PTA).
Design: Cross-Sectional Study
Setting: Tertiary National University Hospital
Participants: 235 employees
Results: The prevalence of mild or worse hearing loss across the whole sample was 51.5% with 5.5% having disabling hearing loss. Whereas, the majority of respondents knew the normal range for vision and blood pressure, only 14.5% reported knowing the “normal” hearing level. Despite more than 1/4 of the employees having a subjective complaint of hearing loss, hearing health was a low priority for the respondents when compared to other health conditions and life activities. Majority would go to their healthcare providers for information about hearing loss but 71.9% had never discussed their hearing with a doctor in the past 10 years. Furthermore, the most commonly cited reasons for not having their hearing evaluated were: (1) not experiencing hearing loss and (2) not having their physician recommend a hearing evaluation. Majority of the respondents strongly acknowledged the potential impacts of hearing loss on their safety, quality of life, and overall health and were aware that it is treatable and preventable. However, there was limited awareness on the long-term negative health sequelae of hearing loss.
Conclusion: This study highlights limited awareness and prioritization of hearing health among participants. The population’s lack of appreciation of the long-term health sequelae of untreated hearing loss should be addressed. Concerted efforts to improve patient’s understanding of hearing health and their healthcare providers’ effort to discuss and evaluate hearing should be improved.
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