Mobile Health Hearing Aid Acclimatization and Support Program in Low-Income Communities: Feasibility Study.
Mobile Health Hearing Aid Acclimatization and Support Program in Low-Income Communities: Feasibility Study.
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DOI：
10.2196/46043
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发表时间：
2023-08-23
影响因子：
2.2
通讯作者：
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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听力损失最常见的管理选择是助听器。除了设备，患者还需要信息和支持，包括维护和故障排除。移动健康(MHealth)技术可以支持助听器的管理、适应和使用。这项研究为首次使用助听器的人开发了一项mHealth适应和支持计划，随后实施并初步测试了该计划的可行性。该计划是由南非低收入社区的社区卫生工作者(CHW)推动的。这项研究旨在评估在低收入社区开展由社区卫生工作者支持的mHealth适应和支持计划的可行性。对以应用为基础的适应和支助进行了调整和翻译，以便在低收入和中等收入国家使用。该程序通过WhatsApp或20条不同的短信以20种不同的语音记录和图形插图的形式发布。2021年3月，在南非西开普省的两个低收入社区试戴了一款社区助听器后，该项目立即提供给了首次使用助听器的人。这20条信息是在45天的时间里发送的。参与者在计划的第8、20和43天通过电话联系，并在计划开始45天和6个月后通过翻译成isiXhosa的开放式纸质问卷获得关于他们对计划的体验、感知和可获得性的信息。他们的回答采用归纳主题分析方法进行分析。共有19名佩戴助听器的参与者接受了mHealth适应和支持计划。大多数参与者(15/19，79%)通过WhatsApp收到该计划，其中21%(4/19)通过短信收到。参与者描述该计划在两次后续行动中都是有帮助的、支持性的、信息量大的、充足的和清晰的。共有14名参与者报告说，他们在6个月的随访中仍在使用助听器。三名参与者表示，他们关于助听器的问题并没有全部得到回答，还有5名参与者有轻微的助听器问题。这包括反馈(n=1)、电池性能(n=1)、身体适合度(n=2)和助听器附件问题(n=1)。然而，社区卫生组织成功地解决了所有这些问题。通过WhatsApp收到该程序的参与者与通过短信收到该程序的参与者之间的回应没有显著差异。收到WhatsApp消息的大多数参与者报告说，语音笔记更容易理解，但图形插图很好地补充了语音笔记。MHealth适应和支持计划是可行的，并有可能帮助低收入社区的首次使用者适应和使用助听器。可扩展的mHealth支持选项可以促进更多的机会和改善听力护理的结果。
The most common management option for hearing loss is hearing aids. In addition to devices, patients require information and support, including maintenance and troubleshooting. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies can support hearing aid management, acclimatization, and use. This study developed an mHealth acclimatization and support program for first-time hearing aid users and subsequently implemented and pilot-tested the feasibility of the program. The program was facilitated by community health workers (CHWs) in low-income communities in South Africa. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of an mHealth acclimatization and support program supported by CHWs in low-income communities. An application-based acclimatization and support was adapted and translated for use in low- and middle-income countries. This program was delivered in the form of 20 different voice notes accompanied by graphical illustrations via WhatsApp or 20 different SMS text messages. The program was provided to first-time hearing aid users immediately after a community-based hearing aid fitting in March 2021 in 2 low-income communities in the Western Cape, South Africa. The 20 messages were sent over a period of 45 days. Participants were contacted telephonically on days 8, 20, and 43 of the program and via open-ended paper-based questionnaires translated to isiXhosa 45 days and 6 months after the program started to obtain information on their experiences, perceptions, and accessibility of the program. Their responses were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. A total of 19 participants fitted with hearing aids received the mHealth acclimatization and support program. Most participants (15/19, 79%) received the program via WhatsApp, with 21% (4/19) of them receiving it via SMS text message. Participants described the program as helpful, supportive, informative, sufficient, and clear at both follow-ups. A total of 14 participants reported that they were still using their hearing aids at the 6-month follow-up. Three participants indicated that not all their questions about hearing aids were answered, and 5 others had minor hearing aid issues. This included feedback (n=1), battery performance (n=1), physical fit (n=2), and issues with hearing aid accessories (n=1). However, CHWs successfully addressed all these issues. There were no notable differences in responses between the participants who received the program via WhatsApp compared with those who received it through SMS text message. Most participants receiving WhatsApp messages reported that the voice notes were easier to understand, but the graphical illustrations supplemented the voice notes well. An mHealth acclimatization and support program is feasible and potentially assists hearing aid acclimatization and use for first-time users in low-income communities. Scalable mHealth support options can facilitate increased access and improve outcomes of hearing care.