None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The overall aim of this project is to adapt an existing Hearing Wellbeing Program (HWP) to be an implementation-ready online intervention that addresses the psychosocial and emotional needs of adults with hearing loss. The HWP is the output of a human-centred co-design process conducted in 2020-21 with people living with hearing loss, researchers, audiologists, and psychologists, policy makers, philanthropic organisations, and consultants, initiated by Soundfair (a consumer-driven charity) to address a gap in offerings that address the psychosocial and emotional impacts of hearing loss. It comprises 10 self-guided wellbeing modules, currently available only in hard copy. It is, however, ideally suited to adaptation as an online resource, thus allowing flexibility in its delivery in response to consumers’ desire for accessible support options that are not tied to specific help-seeking pathways (i.e., seeing a hearing healthcare professional) nor location or geography. Specifically, this project will: 1. Adapt the existing HWP to be self-paced and online, using co-design methods with adults with lived experience of hearing loss, audiologists, psychologists, and digital technology experts. 2. Assess and determine the feasibility of the online HWP, and revise the program based on these results. 3. To evaluate the efficacy and health costs of the online HWP for adults with hearing loss, compared to an active control, in a clinical trial.
Interventions
The Hearing Wellbeing Program (HWP) is an online program that addresses the psychosocial and emotional needs of adults with hearing loss. An earlier co-design and feasibility study will first be conducted to develop and iterate the online HWP for use in the current study.
Once a participant registers for the online program, they will be prompted to complete a brief questionnaire that enables the content of the program to be tailored to the individual. Where a person indicates that they may be
The Hearing Wellbeing Program (HWP) is an online program that addresses the psychosocial and emotional needs of adults with hearing loss. An earlier co-design and feasibility study will first be conducted to develop and iterate the online HWP for use in the current study. Once a participant registers for the online program, they will be prompted to complete a brief questionnaire that enables the content of the program to be tailored to the individual. Where a person indicates that they may be impacted within an area of psychosocial concern, the appropriate module is suggested. The HWP comprises 10 self-guided wellbeing modules: 1. Acceptance and hearing loss 2. Anxiety and hearing loss 3. Confidence, self-efficacy and hearing loss 4. Grief and hearing loss 5. Identity and hearing loss 6. Loneliness and hearing loss 7. Low mood and hearing loss 8. Relationships 9. Respectful communication and hearing loss 10. Stigma and hearing loss Each module offers psychologically based information about the topic, followed by information about how this may relate to them as a person with a hearing condition. The modules use lay language and aim to validate the persons emotional and psychosocial experiences. This is enhanced via the inclusion of lived experience quotes and stories related to the topic. Every module concludes with three or more psychologically based strategies and participants can choose the ones that feel most suitable for them. Each strategy is introduced and explained followed by an applied exercise or activity, as applicable. The program also indicates where support of a psychologist may be required. It is anticipated that the content will be delivered via a combination of written text, infographics, captioned short videos, and interactive components. It is anticipated that each module will take a minimum of 30 minutes to complete however this will vary depending upon the strategies and activities selected by each individual (with many strategies suitable for use on multiple occasions). The program is completed securely online, and the participant can complete the program at a time and place of their choice, over a three month trial period. Learning Management System and web-based analytics will be used to monitor adherence and usage data. Self-reported engagement will be reported in a sub-set of participants invited to a semi-structured interview.
Sponsors
Soundfair Australia
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Participants with self-reported hearing loss. Access to the internet.
Exclusion criteria
None.
Outcome results
None listed