Evaluating United States Air Force Hearing Conservation Educational Materials and Interventions
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| Title: | Evaluating United States Air Force Hearing Conservation Educational Materials and Interventions |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Thomas Dominguez |
| Source: | ProQuest LLC. 2024Ph.D. Dissertation, The University of Utah. |
| Availability: | ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 119 |
| Publication Date: | 2024 |
| Document Type: | Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations |
| Descriptors: | Armed Forces, Military Personnel, Military Training, Military Schools, Hard of Hearing, Instructional Materials, Veterans, Auditory Tests, Curriculum Development, Compliance (Legal), Best Practices, Training Methods |
| ISBN: | 979-83-02-18408-5 |
| Abstract: | Noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus are two of the most prevalent service-connected disabilities of United States military veterans. Educational materials from active-duty, continental United States (CONUS) Air Force bases were evaluated for compliance with regulations and assessed for understandability, actionability, and readability to establish a baseline. Educational materials were received from 44 of 61 (72%) bases and overall mean compliance (67 educational materials reviewed by 3 evaluators, n = 201) was 84 ± 21%, 83 ± 21%, and 88 ± 21% for United States Air Force (USAF), Department of Defense (DoD), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) criteria, respectively. Overall mean understandability was 75 ± 12% and actionability was 89 ± 22%. Overall mean readability (n = 67) was grade level 10.68 ± 1.68 on the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) scale. A scoping review was conducted to describe the current literature on field-microphone-in-real-ear (F-MIRE) use in attaining overall personal attenuation ratings (PARs) for hearing protection devices. Training, interventions, and regular retraining generally had a positive influence on F-MIRE PARs. Most PARs did not exceed relevant NRRs, indicating a significant potential for PAR improvements and the need for a standardized comparison method. An F-MIRE system was used in a pilot study to evaluate subjects without prior hearing conservation program training so PARs could be determined both before and after one of two interventions: USAF training material or a modified NIOSH QuickFit (MNQ) protocol. Post-intervention, half (8 of 16, 50%) of USAF and a majority (13 of 17, 77%) of MNQ participants had a PAR84 above the 15 dBA target PAR. Median [delta]PAR84 increases from baseline were 4 dBA for USAF and 5 dBA for MNQ, showing no significant difference between the two interventions. Recommendations for the DoD include: (i) updating the two-page pamphlet to meet all compliance requirements, while increasing understandability, actionability, and readability, and distributing the pamphlet as a template; (ii) updating regulations to incorporate best practices from industry (e.g., roll-pull-insert); and (iii) use F-MIRE technology to attain quick, objective, and individualized PARs for all hearing conservation program employees, rather than only those exposed to greater than 95 dBA. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Access URL: | https://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqm&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:31487465 |
| Accession Number: | ED670339 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus are two of the most prevalent service-connected disabilities of United States military veterans. Educational materials from active-duty, continental United States (CONUS) Air Force bases were evaluated for compliance with regulations and assessed for understandability, actionability, and readability to establish a baseline. Educational materials were received from 44 of 61 (72%) bases and overall mean compliance (67 educational materials reviewed by 3 evaluators, n = 201) was 84 ± 21%, 83 ± 21%, and 88 ± 21% for United States Air Force (USAF), Department of Defense (DoD), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) criteria, respectively. Overall mean understandability was 75 ± 12% and actionability was 89 ± 22%. Overall mean readability (n = 67) was grade level 10.68 ± 1.68 on the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) scale. A scoping review was conducted to describe the current literature on field-microphone-in-real-ear (F-MIRE) use in attaining overall personal attenuation ratings (PARs) for hearing protection devices. Training, interventions, and regular retraining generally had a positive influence on F-MIRE PARs. Most PARs did not exceed relevant NRRs, indicating a significant potential for PAR improvements and the need for a standardized comparison method. An F-MIRE system was used in a pilot study to evaluate subjects without prior hearing conservation program training so PARs could be determined both before and after one of two interventions: USAF training material or a modified NIOSH QuickFit (MNQ) protocol. Post-intervention, half (8 of 16, 50%) of USAF and a majority (13 of 17, 77%) of MNQ participants had a PAR84 above the 15 dBA target PAR. Median [delta]PAR84 increases from baseline were 4 dBA for USAF and 5 dBA for MNQ, showing no significant difference between the two interventions. Recommendations for the DoD include: (i) updating the two-page pamphlet to meet all compliance requirements, while increasing understandability, actionability, and readability, and distributing the pamphlet as a template; (ii) updating regulations to incorporate best practices from industry (e.g., roll-pull-insert); and (iii) use F-MIRE technology to attain quick, objective, and individualized PARs for all hearing conservation program employees, rather than only those exposed to greater than 95 dBA. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] |
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| ISBN: | 979-83-02-18408-5 |
