Prospective, randomized controlled assessment of the short- and long-term efficacy of a hearing conservation education program in Canadian elementary school children.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of a hearing conservation program in changing acoustic risk-taking and hearing conservation behaviors in elementary school children.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, mixed design controlled study.


METHODS
Participants were grade-six students from 16 Vancouver School Board schools. Differences between the intervention and control group responses on a behavioral questionnaire were measured at baseline, and then at 2 weeks and 6 months after administration of a hearing conservation program (Sound Sense™).


RESULTS
The intervention resulted in significant interactions for improved earplug use at dances (P = .019), rock concerts (P = .001), with percussion musical instruments (P = .002), and electric guitars (P = .028) at 2 weeks postintervention relative to baseline. Improvements in children's earplug use at dances (P = .041), rock concerts (P = .0024), and with power lawn mowers (P = .043) at 6 months postintervention relative to baseline were also observed. Behavior in the intervention group compared to control group improved in earplug use with any "other noises" at 2 weeks (P = .001), and 6 months (P = .022) relative to baseline. There was a tendency in the intervention group to reduce the duration of use of personal music devices at 2 weeks and 6 months after the hearing conservation program, which was nonsignificant.


CONCLUSIONS
The Sound Sense™ hearing conservation program improved earplug use practices in elementary school children in the short and long term. The development, implementation and evaluation of a community-based health promotion project around hearing loss can serve as a tremendous opportunity for students to develop their knowledge and skills in health advocacy.
Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Anastasia
A
Neufeld
Brian D
BD
Westerberg
Shahin
S
Nabi
Graham
G
Bryce
Yves
Y
Bureau
D000293:Adolescent; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D004430:Ear Protective Devices; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009146:Music; D012574:Schools