Mhealth hearing screening for children by non-specialist health workers in communities
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Date
Authors
Dawood, Nausheen
Asmail, Faheema Mahomed
Louw, Christine
Swanepoel, De Wet
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor and Francis
Abstract
OBJECTIVES : To compare outcomes of a community-based hearing screening programme using smartphone screening audiometry operated by specialist (School Health Nurses – SHNs) and non-specialist health workers (Community Health Workers – CHWs) in school children. DESIGN : This study used a two-group comparison of screening outcomes as conducted by SHNs and CHWs using smartphone screening for children in communities. STUDY SAMPLE : The study included 71 CHWs and 21 SHNs who conducted community-based hearing screening on 6805 children. One thousand one hundred and fifteen hearing screening tests were conducted by the CHWs and 5690 tests by the SHNs. RESULTS : No significant difference in screening outcome was evident between CHWs and SHNs using a binomial logistic regression analysis considering age, test duration and noise levels as independent variables. Final screening result was significantly affected by age (p < 0.005), duration of test (p < 0.005) and noise levels exceeding at 1 kHz in at least one ear (p < 0.005). Test failure was associated with longer test duration (p < 0.005; B: 119.98; 95% CI: 112.65–127.30). CHWs had significantly (p < 0.005) longer test durations (68.70 s; 70 SD) in comparison to SHNs (55.85 s; 66.1 SD). CONCLUSION : Low-cost mobile technologies with automated testing facilitated from user-friendly interfaces allow minimally trained persons to provide community-based screening comparable to specialised personnel.
Description
Keywords
Adult hearing screening, General hearing screening, Hearing conservation, Hearing loss prevention paediatric, Non-specialist hearing screening
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Nausheen Dawood, Faheema Mahomed Asmail, Christine Louw & De Wet Swanepoel (2020) Mhealth hearing screening for children by non-specialist health workers in communities, International Journal of Audiology, 60:sup1, S23-S29, DOI:10.1080/14992027.2020.1829719.