Hearing conservation program for agricultural students: short-term outcomes from a cluster-randomized trial with planned long-term follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
(1) To conduct a contemporary analysis of historical data on short-term efficacy of a 3-year hearing conservation program conducted from 1992 to 1996 in Wisconsin, USA, with 753 high school students actively involved in farm work; (2) to establish procedures for assessment of hearing loss for use in a recently funded follow-up of this same hearing conservation program cohort.


METHODS
We analyzed a pragmatic cluster-randomized controlled trial, with schools as the unit of randomization. Thirty-four rural schools were recruited and randomized to intervention or control. The intervention included classroom instruction, distribution of hearing protection devices, direct mailings, noise level assessments, and yearly audiometric testing. The control group received the audiometric testing.


RESULTS
Students exposed to the hearing conservation program reported more frequent use of hearing protection devices, but there was no evidence of reduced levels of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).


CONCLUSIONS
Our analysis suggests that, since NIHL is cumulative, a 3-year study was likely not long enough to evaluate the efficacy of this intervention. While improvements in reported use of hearing protection devices were noted, the lasting impact of these behaviors is unknown and the finding merits corroboration by longer term objective hearing tests. A follow-up study of the cohort has recently been started.
Biomedical Informatics Research Center, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, WI, USA.
Richard L
RL
Berg
William
W
Pickett
Marcy
M
Fitz-Randolph
Steven K
SK
Broste
Mary Jo
MJ
Knobloch
Douglas J
DJ
Wood
Steven R
SR
Kirkhorn
James G
JG
Linneman
Barbara
B
Marlenga
D000293:Adolescent; D000383:Agriculture / Q000193:education*; D001299:Audiometry; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D013334:Students; D014922:Wisconsin; D055815:Young Adult