Association between the home-to-healthcare center distance and hearing aid abandonment among older adults

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dc.article.number1364000
dc.contributor.authorFuentes-Lopez E.
dc.contributor.authorGalaz-Mella J.
dc.contributor.authorAyala S.
dc.contributor.authorDe la Fuente C.
dc.contributor.authorLuna-Monsalve M.
dc.contributor.authorNieman C.
dc.contributor.authorMarcotti A.
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-15T07:00:11Z
dc.date.available2024-10-15T07:00:11Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.description.abstractCopyright © 2024 Fuentes-López, Galaz-Mella, Ayala, De la Fuente, Luna-Monsalve, Nieman and Marcotti.Background: Access to audiology services for older adults residing in sparsely populated regions is often limited compared to those in central urban areas. The geographic accessibility to follow-up care, particularly the influence of distance, may contribute to an increased risk of hearing aid abandonment. Objective: To assess the association between the home-to-healthcare-calibration-center distance and hearing aid abandonment among older adults fitted in the Chilean public health system. Methods: 455 patients who received hearing aids from two public hospitals in two regions were considered. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression models with robust variance estimation were used to analyze the association between the geographical distance and hearing aid abandonment, accounting for confounding effects. Results: Approximately 18% of the sample abandoned the hearing aid, and around 50% reported using the hearing aid every day. A twofold increase in distance between home and the hearing center yielded a 35% (RR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.04–1.74; p = 0.022) increased risk of hearing aid abandonment. Also, those in the second quintile had a 2.17 times the risk of abandoning the hearing aid compared to the first quintile (up to 2.3 km). Under the assumption that patients reside within the first quintile of distance, a potential reduction of 45% in the incidence of hearing aid abandonment would be observed. The observed risk remained consistent across different statistical models to assess sensitivity. Conclusion: A higher distance between the residence and the healthcare center increases hearing aid abandonment risk. The association may be explained by barriers in purchasing supplies required to maintain the device (batteries, cleaning elements, potential repairs, or maintenance).
dc.description.funderCONICYT
dc.description.funderFund for Encouraging Scientific and Technological Development
dc.description.funderAgencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo
dc.description.funderFONDEF
dc.description.funderFund for Health Research and Development
dc.description.funderFONIS
dc.description.funderFONDECYT
dc.description.funderFONDECYT
dc.format.extent559 páginas
dc.fuente.origenScopus
dc.identifier.doi10.3389/fpubh.2024.1364000
dc.identifier.eissn17482801
dc.identifier.issn22962565
dc.identifier.pubmedid35430032
dc.identifier.scopusidSCOPUS_ID:85195665471
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1364000
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/88222
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:001244786600001
dc.information.autorucFacultad de Medicina; Fuentes Lopez, Eduardo; S/I; 1013849
dc.issue.numero6
dc.language.isoen
dc.nota.accesoContenido completo
dc.pagina.final20
dc.pagina.inicio14
dc.relation.ispartofThe Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology
dc.revistaFrontiers in Public Health
dc.rightsacceso abierto
dc.subjectage-related hearing loss
dc.subjectfollow-up care
dc.subjectgeographic accessibility
dc.subjecthearing aid abandonment
dc.subjecthearing aids
dc.subject.ods03 Good health and well-being
dc.subject.odspa03 Salud y bienestar
dc.titleAssociation between the home-to-healthcare center distance and hearing aid abandonment among older adults
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen12
sipa.codpersvinculados1013849
sipa.indexScopus
sipa.trazabilidadCarga WOS-SCOPUS;15-10-2024
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