title: Health behavior theories as predictors of hearing-aid uptake and outcomes.
abstract: To understand hearing behaviors of adults seeking help for the first time through the application of two models of health behavior change: the transtheoretical model and the health belief model.
  
  
  
  The relationships between attitudes and beliefs were examined relative to hearing-aid uptake and outcomes six months later.
  
  
  
  One hundred and sixty adults completed the University of Rhode Island change assessment (targeting the transtheoretical model), and the hearing beliefs questionnaire (targeting the health belief model), as well as the hearing handicap inventory and the psychosocial impact of hearing loss scale, within two months of an initial hearing assessment. Six months later, participants completed these same questionnaires, while those who had taken up hearing aids also completed hearing-aid outcome questionnaires.
  
  
  
  (1) Attitudes and beliefs were associated with future hearing-aid uptake, and were effective at modeling this behavior; (2) attitudes and beliefs changed following behavior change, and (3) attitudes and beliefs following behavior change were better predictors of hearing-aid outcomes than pre-behavior change attitudes and beliefs.
  
  
  
  A counseling-based intervention targeting the attitudes and beliefs assessed by the transtheoretical model and the health belief model has the potential to increase uptake of hearing health care.
authors.affiliation: a National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland VA Medical Center , Portland , USA .|b Department of Otolaryngology , Oregon Health and Sciences University , Portland , USA .
authors.forename: Gabrielle H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: a National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland VA Medical Center , Portland , USA .
authors.forename: Melissa T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Frederick
authors.affiliation: a National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland VA Medical Center , Portland , USA .
authors.forename: ShienPei C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.affiliation: c Eriksholm Research Centre, Oticon a/S , Snekkersten , Denmark .
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: a National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland VA Medical Center , Portland , USA .|d Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning , Linköping University , Linköping , Sweden.
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laplante-Lévesque
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001307:Auditory Perception; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003376:Counseling; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Rehabilitation of hearing impairment; attitudes; beliefs; health behavior; predictive validity