Do group audiologic rehabilitation activities influence psychosocial outcomes?
OBJECTIVE
To attempt to determine whether group audiologic rehabilitation (AR) content affected psychosocial outcomes.


METHODS
A randomized controlled trial with at least 17 participants per group was completed. The 3 treatment groups included a communication strategies training group, a communication strategies training plus psychosocial exercise group, and an informational lecture plus psychosocial exercise group. Evaluations were conducted preclass, postclass, and 6-months postclass; they included hearing loss-related and generic quality of life scales, and a class evaluation form.


RESULTS
All treatment groups demonstrated short- and long-term improvement on the hearing loss-related quality of life scale. Minimal differences were measured across treatment groups. A significant difference was observed between the lecture plus psychosocial exercise group and the communication strategies training group for 1 hearing loss-related quality of life subscale. Better outcomes were measured for the 2 groups with psychosocial exercises versus the communication strategies training group on 1 generic quality of life subscale. The results for the class evaluation did not discriminate among the treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Class content had only a minimal influence on treatment outcomes. Recommended AR class content includes a mix of interventions including information, training, and psychosocial exercises.
Preminger
Jill E
JE
University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY 40292, USA. jill.preminger@louisville.edu
Yoo
Jae K
JK
D000368:Aged; D003145:Communication Methods, Total; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000523:psychology; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D016896:Treatment Outcome