Assessing Hearing Conservation Effectiveness

噪声性听力损失(NIHL)仍然是最常见的职业性疾病之一，即使在 具有符合OSHA听力保护计划(HCP)的工作场所。职业病预防 听力损失和开发更好的工具来评估HCP的有效性是 制造业的国家职业研究议程(NORA)。这项提议将建立在一个独特的 研究团队与一家主要制造公司之间的关系，以开发 综合的、“混合方法”方法，以评估初级卫生保健方案的有效性。这项研究还将 检查已实施的听力损失预防创新技术的效果 一些学习设施。这项研究的目标是1)招募10个地点，并确定实际情况与预期情况 每个设施工作人员的高频听力损失率，2)对 设施测听数据库，包括建议的评估HCP的ANSI方法 有效性，3)使用焦点小组和 访谈，以及4)使用MIXED组合和比较定量和定性评估 方法和多变量方法。这项研究将导致开发一种实用的工具 评估听力保护效果和加强对噪声性听力损失的预防。

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.