Assessing Hearing Conservation Effectiveness

评估听力保护效果

• 批准号: 8185643
• 负责人: PETER MACGARR RABINOWITZ
• 金额: $ 51.49万
• 依托单位: YALE UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-09-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8185643
• 关键词: Assessing; Hearing; Conservation; Effectiveness

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) continues to be one of the most common occupational disorders, even in workplaces with OSHA-compliant hearing conservation programs (HCPs). Prevention of occupational hearing loss and development of better tools to assess HCP effectiveness are top priorities of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) for manufacturing. This proposal will build on a unique relationship between the research team and a major manufacturing company to develop a comprehensive, "mixed method" approach for assessing HCP effectiveness. This research will also examine the effect of innovative technologies for hearing loss prevention that have been implemented in some study facilities. The study aims are to 1) recruit 10 locations and determine observed vs. expected rates of high frequency hearing loss for workers at each facility, 2) Perform quantitative analyses of the facility audiometric databases, including proposed ANSI methods for assessment of HCP effectiveness, 3) perform onsite qualitative analyses of HCP components using focus groups and interviews, and 4) combine and compare quantitative and qualitative assessments using mixed methods and multivariate approaches. This research will result in the development of a practical tool for assessing hearing conservation effectiveness and enhanced prevention of noise induced hearing loss. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This research addresses an urgent need to better assess and improve hearing conservation programs nationally. It has the potential to affect daily hearing conservation practice affecting millions of noise exposed workers in this country. The results of this study could have major research to practice (r2p) implications for hearing conservation, identifying important new opportunities for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss, one of the most prevalent occupational diseases.

描述（由申请人提供）：噪声性听力损失 (NIHL) 仍然是最常见的职业病之一，即使在设有符合 OSHA 的听力保护计划 (HCP) 的工作场所也是如此。预防职业性听力损失和开发更好的工具来评估 HCP 有效性是制造业国家职业研究议程 (NORA) 的首要任务。该提案将建立在研究团队与一家大型制造公司之间的独特关系的基础上，开发一种全面的“混合方法”方法来评估 HCP 的有效性。这项研究还将检验一些研究机构已实施的预防听力损失的创新技术的效果。该研究的目的是 1) 招募 10 个地点，并确定每个设施中工人观察到的高频听力损失率与预期的比率，2) 对设施听力数据库进行定量分析，包括拟议的用于评估 HCP 有效性的 ANSI 方法，3) 使用焦点小组和访谈对 HCP 组成部分进行现场定性分析，以及 4) 使用混合方法结合和比较定量和定性评估 方法和多元方法。这项研究将开发出一种实用工具，用于评估听力保护效果并加强对噪声引起的听力损失的预防。 公共卫生相关性：这项研究解决了更好地评估和改进全国听力保护计划的迫切需要。它有可能影响日常听力保护实践，影响该国数百万暴露于噪音的工人。这项研究的结果可能会对听力保护的实践（r2p）影响产生重大研究，确定预防噪音引起的听力损失（最常见的职业病之一）的重要新机会。