Evaluation of Hearing Protection Fit Testing Program

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The specific aim of this research is to evaluate the performance, effectiveness, and long-term training benefits of a formal hearing protection fit testing program. This study may provide preliminary evidence on the benefits of direct education/training combined with a formal hearing protection device (HPD) fit testing on HPD fittings on United States Air Force (USAF) employees. Currently, Public Health provides informal, subjective training to employees; this practice may be altered by the results of this study.

Official Title
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Evaluation of Hearing Protection Fit Testing Program

Conditions
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Hearing Loss

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Software intervention and education
* Other: Education only


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Subjects must be enrolled in the hearing conservation program, and can be civilian or active duty/uniformed. Subjects must be currently using some form of in-the-ear hearing protection device on a regular basis and have ear canals free of cerumen, infection, or any other obstruction. Exclusion Criteria: Not enrolled in the hearing conservation program. Not using in-the-ear hearing protection device on a regular basis. Ear canals containing cerumen, infection, or other obstructions.
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Software intervention and education<br>This group will receive software intervention and education before and after receiving one-on-one education, thus showing if benefit or effect occurs simply due to having the software input before receiving education. | Other: Software intervention and education<br>* Personal attenuation rating measurements will be taken before and after educating the patient using software program<br>|
| Active Comparator: Education only<br>This group will not receive software intervention prior to and after one-on-one education, only afterwards. | Other: Education only<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Degree of earplug fit for participants in the Air Force Hearing Conservation Program as a measure of education and personnal attenuation rating. | The experimental group will show an increase, larger than the control group, in the amount of personal attenuation rating measurement shown by the software program as a result of software intervention used before and after education at the initial and follow-up visits. | 6 mos after intial subject visit | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Hearing conservation, Personal attenuation rating, earplug