Philip Zazove1, Melissa A Plegue2, Michael M McKee2, Melissa DeJonckheere2, Paul R Kileny3, Lauren S Schleicher2, Lee A Green4, Ananda Sen5, Mary E Rapai2, Elie Mulhem6. 1. Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan pzaz@med.umich.edu. 2. Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 3. Otorhinolaryngology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 4. Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 5. Department of Family Medicine and Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 6. Department of Family Medicine, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, Michigan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Hearing loss, the second most common disability in the United States, is under-diagnosed and under-treated. Identifying it in early stages could prevent its known substantial adverse outcomes. METHODS: A multiple baseline design was implemented to assess a screening paradigm for identifying and referring patients aged ≥55 years with hearing loss at 10 family medicine clinics in 2 health systems. Patients completed a consent form and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHI). An electronic alert prompted clinicians to screen for hearing loss during visits. RESULTS: The 14,877 eligible patients during the study period had 36,701 encounters. Referral rates in the family medicine clinics increased from a baseline rate of 3.2% to 14.4% in 1 health system and from a baseline rate of 0.7% to 4.7% in the other. A general medicine comparison group showed referral rate increase from the 3.0% baseline rate to 3.3%. Of the 5,883 study patients who completed the HHI 25.2% (n=1,484) had HHI scores suggestive of hearing loss; those patients had higher referral rates, 28% vs 9.2% (P <.001). Of 1,660 patients referred for hearing testing, 717 had audiology data available for analysis: 669 (93.3%) were rated appropriately referred and 421 (58.7%) were considered hearing aid candidates. Overall, 71.5% of patients contacted felt their referral was appropriate. CONCLUSION: An electronic alert used to remind clinicians to ask patients aged ≥55 years about hearing loss significantly increased audiology referrals for at-risk patients. Audiologic and audiogram data support the effectiveness of the prompt. Clinicians should consider adopting this method to identify patients with hearing loss to reduce its known and adverse sequelae.
PURPOSE:Hearing loss, the second most common disability in the United States, is under-diagnosed and under-treated. Identifying it in early stages could prevent its known substantial adverse outcomes. METHODS: A multiple baseline design was implemented to assess a screening paradigm for identifying and referring patients aged ≥55 years with hearing loss at 10 family medicine clinics in 2 health systems. Patients completed a consent form and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHI). An electronic alert prompted clinicians to screen for hearing loss during visits. RESULTS: The 14,877 eligible patients during the study period had 36,701 encounters. Referral rates in the family medicine clinics increased from a baseline rate of 3.2% to 14.4% in 1 health system and from a baseline rate of 0.7% to 4.7% in the other. A general medicine comparison group showed referral rate increase from the 3.0% baseline rate to 3.3%. Of the 5,883 study patients who completed the HHI 25.2% (n=1,484) had HHI scores suggestive of hearing loss; those patients had higher referral rates, 28% vs 9.2% (P <.001). Of 1,660 patients referred for hearing testing, 717 had audiology data available for analysis: 669 (93.3%) were rated appropriately referred and 421 (58.7%) were considered hearing aid candidates. Overall, 71.5% of patients contacted felt their referral was appropriate. CONCLUSION: An electronic alert used to remind clinicians to ask patients aged ≥55 years about hearing loss significantly increased audiology referrals for at-risk patients. Audiologic and audiogram data support the effectiveness of the prompt. Clinicians should consider adopting this method to identify patients with hearing loss to reduce its known and adverse sequelae.
Authors: Philip Zazove; Michael McKee; Lauren Schleicher; Lee Green; Paul Kileny; Mary Rapai; Elie Mulhem Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2017-03-01 Impact factor: 4.497
Authors: C D Mulrow; C Aguilar; J E Endicott; M R Tuley; R Velez; W S Charlip; M C Rhodes; J A Hill; L A DeNino Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 1990-08-01 Impact factor: 25.391
Authors: Judy R Dubno; Pranab Majumder; Janet Prvu Bettger; Rowena J Dolor; Victoria Eifert; Howard W Francis; Carl F Pieper; Kristine A Schulz; Mina Silberberg; Sherri L Smith; Amy R Walker; David L Witsell; Debara L Tucci Journal: Cost Eff Resour Alloc Date: 2022-06-25