A case study of an emerging community-based early hearing detection and intervention program: part II. Team building with otolaryngologists and pediatricians using a survey approach.
OBJECTIVE
Physicians are vital team members of early hearing detection and intervention programs (EHDIPs), particularly in encouraging parents to comply with recommendations for follow-up services for their infants in universal newborn hearing screening programs (UNHSPs). This study describes a survey approach to help audiologists partner with otolaryngologists and pediatricians in EHDIPs.


METHODS
We developed and mailed a 19-item questionnaire to all 12 otolaryngologists and 66 pediatricians potentially involved in a community-based EHDIP. The questionnaire assessed respondents' demographic data and knowledge of, experiences with, and attitudes toward the service-delivery continuum of UNHSPs.


RESULTS
The overall response rate was 45%; all 12 otolaryngologists responded (100%; data from 7 were analyzed), and 23 pediatricians responded (34.8%; all were analyzed). Generally, they were positive toward and knowledgeable about UNHSPs and believed that (a) parent/infant bonding is unaffected by screening, (b) hearing reevaluations following medical services are important, (c) audiologists perform their role adequately, (d) it is important that hearing losses be identified and interventions begun before infants reach 6 months of age, (e) UNHSPs deserve funding, and (f) their role is important, but the physicians also wanted improvements in parent education and referral/follow-ups.


CONCLUSIONS
The survey method was effective in identifying participating physicians' informational needs and attitudes toward UNHSPs, and in designing outreach programs for them.
Danhauer
Jeffrey L
JL
University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA. danhauer@speech.ucsb.edu
Johnson
Carole E
CE
Finnegan
Dan
D
Hansen
Katherine
K
Lamb
Marilene
M
Lopez
Ilian Priscilla
IP
Meuel
Caitlin
C
Pecile
Angela
A
Resnick
Shelby
S
Williams
Victoria
V
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001298:Audiology; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010036:Otolaryngology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010372:Pediatrics; D010819:Physician's Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*