Towards a metatheory explaining hearing protection device use among workers

Offering hearing protection devices (HPDs) to workers exposed to hazardous noise is a common noise control strategy for preventing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). However, HPDs are not always worn, or are used incorrectly and inconsistently by workers, which explains their limited efficiency. Numerous models based on social cognition theories aim to improve hearing protection training programs and to increase HPD use. They identify significant factors associated with worker’s behaviors regarding HPD use (e.g., perceived barriers and benefits to HPD use, perceived self-efficacy). However, these models do not detail (dis)comfort aspects originating from complex interactions between physical characteristics of the triad “user/HPD/work environment” while these aspects are known to largely influence HPD (mis)use. The objective of this communication is to propose a metatheory explaining HPD (mis)use and based on the integration of an HPD comfort model into an existing social cognition model already developed for HPDs. This holistic description of the HPD use, involving both physical and psychosocial characteristics of the triad, could be used as a tool for the stakeholders (e.g., researchers, manufacturers, preventers) involved in the protection of workers from NIHL.