Affiliation:
1. College of Public Health University of South Florida Tampa Florida USA
2. Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore Maryland USA
3. Department of Epidemiology Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore Maryland USA
4. Department of Health Policy and Management Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore Maryland USA
5. Department of Medicine Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA
Abstract
AbstractObjectiveHearing loss may negatively impact satisfaction with health care via patient‐provider communication barriers and may be amenable to hearing care treatment.Study DesignCross‐sectional.SettingNational Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative survey of noninstitutionalized US residents, 2013 to 2018 pooled cycles.MethodsParticipants described satisfaction with health care in the past year, categorized as optimal (very satisfied) versus suboptimal (satisfied, dissatisfied, very dissatisfied) satisfaction. Self‐report hearing without hearing aids (excellent, good, a little trouble, moderate trouble, a lot of trouble) and hearing aid use (yes, no) were collected. Weighted Poisson regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and health covariates were used to estimate prevalence rate ratios (PRRs) of satisfaction with care by hearing loss and hearing aid use.ResultsAmong 137,216 participants (mean age 50.9 years, 56% female, 12% black), representing 77.2 million Americans in the weighted model, 19% reported trouble hearing. Those with good (PRR = 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18‐1.23), a little trouble (PRR = 1.27, 95% CI, 1.23‐1.31), moderate trouble (PRR = 1.29, 95% CI, 1.24‐1.35), and a lot of trouble hearing (PRR = 1.26, 95% CI, 1.18‐1.33) had a higher prevalence rate of suboptimal satisfaction with care relative to those with excellent hearing. Among all participants with trouble hearing, hearing aid users had a 17% decrease in the prevalence rate of suboptimal satisfaction with care (PRR = 0.83, 95% CI, 0.78‐0.88) compared to nonusers.ConclusionHearing loss decreases patient satisfaction with health care, which is tied to Medicare hospital reimbursement models. Hearing aid use may improve patient‐provider communication and patient satisfaction, although prospective studies are warranted to truly establish their protective effect.
Subject
Otorhinolaryngology,Surgery
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