title: Noise and hearing protection: Latino construction workers' experiences.
abstract: This study explored Latino construction workers' experiences with occupational noise and hearing protection to provide qualitative data to be used in designing an intervention to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. An ecological framework provided the theoretical foundation for this study. Fifteen Latino construction workers participated in one of four focus groups exploring perceptions of exposure to noise on the job and barriers to and supports for wearing hearing protection. Support for an ecological framework was apparent in the environmental and personal factors revealed in the data: how it feels, personal responsibility, they make us wear it, we don't care about ears, it won't happen to me, being Latino, keeping our jobs, hearing protection is uncomfortable, and we can handle it. Researchers are applying results of this study in the development of a hearing conservation intervention for Latino construction workers to be evaluated in a randomized, controlled trial.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, School of Nursing, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Madeleine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Halterman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003120:Colorado; D004430:Ear Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D008960:Models, Psychological; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009785:Occupational Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support