TY - JOUR
T1 - Remote Technologies to Enhance Service Delivery for Adults
T2 - Clinical Research Perspectives
AU - Ferguson, Melanie A.
AU - Eikelboom, Robert H.
AU - Sucher, Cathy M.
AU - Maidment, David W.
AU - Bennett, Rebecca J.
PY - 2023/7/21
Y1 - 2023/7/21
N2 - There are many examples of remote technologies that are clinically effective and provide numerous benefits to adults with hearing loss. Despite this, the uptake of remote technologies for hearing healthcare has been both low and slow until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been a key driver for change globally. The time is now right to take advantage of the many benefits that remote technologies offer, through clinical, consumer, or hybrid services and channels. These include greater access and choice, better interactivity and engagement, and tailoring of technologies to individual needs, leading to clients who are better informed, enabled, and empowered to self-manage their hearing loss. This article provides an overview of the clinical research evidence-base across a range of remote technologies along the hearing health journey. This includes qualitative, as well as quantitative, methods to ensure the end-users' voice is at the core of the research, thereby promoting person-centered principles. Most of these remote technologies are available and some are already in use, albeit not widespread. Finally, whenever new technologies or processes are implemented into services, be they clinical, hybrid, or consumer, careful consideration needs to be given to the required behavior change of the key people (e.g., clients and service providers) to facilitate and optimize implementation.
AB - There are many examples of remote technologies that are clinically effective and provide numerous benefits to adults with hearing loss. Despite this, the uptake of remote technologies for hearing healthcare has been both low and slow until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been a key driver for change globally. The time is now right to take advantage of the many benefits that remote technologies offer, through clinical, consumer, or hybrid services and channels. These include greater access and choice, better interactivity and engagement, and tailoring of technologies to individual needs, leading to clients who are better informed, enabled, and empowered to self-manage their hearing loss. This article provides an overview of the clinical research evidence-base across a range of remote technologies along the hearing health journey. This includes qualitative, as well as quantitative, methods to ensure the end-users' voice is at the core of the research, thereby promoting person-centered principles. Most of these remote technologies are available and some are already in use, albeit not widespread. Finally, whenever new technologies or processes are implemented into services, be they clinical, hybrid, or consumer, careful consideration needs to be given to the required behavior change of the key people (e.g., clients and service providers) to facilitate and optimize implementation.
KW - connected hearing healthcare
KW - consumer channels
KW - implementation science, behavior change
KW - over-the-counter
KW - remote technologies
KW - service delivery models
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85165900096&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1055/s-0043-1769742
DO - 10.1055/s-0043-1769742
M3 - Article
C2 - 37484990
AN - SCOPUS:85165900096
SN - 0734-0451
VL - 44
SP - 328
EP - 350
JO - Seminars In Hearing
JF - Seminars In Hearing
IS - 3
ER -