Beyond motivation: Identifying targets for intervention to increase hearing aid use in adults

AbstractObjective: The present study investigated: (a) how motivated patients are to use their hearing aid, and (b) whether post-motivational variables (e.g. action planning, coping planning) have anything to offer in terms of developing interventions to boost hearing aid use.Design: participants completed a questionnaire designed to tap Health Action Process Approach constructs prior to their hearing aid prescription and fitting. Study sample: Sixty-seven patients attending NHS audiology clinics.Results: Participants reported very strong intentions to use hearing aids (Median = 7.00 Q1 and Q3 = 6.67, 7.00, on a +1 to +7 scale) and high self-efficacy (Median = 7.00, Q1 and Q3 = 6.00, on a +1 to +7 scale) leaving little room for improvement. In contrast, participants reported moderate levels of post-motivational variables (action planning Median = 4.25, Q1 and Q3 = 1.13, 7.00 and coping planning Median = 2.75, Q1 and Q3 = 1.00, both measured on +1 to +7 scales) thereby showing significant scope for change....