Core Values in the Traditional Provision of Hearing Health Care

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Public Health
• Healthcare Innovation

Background:

• Untreated hearing loss is a significant public health concern impacting millions of Americans.
• Barriers to hearing loss treatment necessitate innovative solutions, which may challenge existing healthcare values.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify core values in current hearing healthcare service delivery.
• To inform the development of new hearing healthcare models and technologies by understanding existing values.

Main Methods:

• Employed value-sensitive design methodology.
• Conducted qualitative content analysis of questionnaires, clinical practice guidelines, and professional ethics documents.

Main Results:

• Developed a comprehensive list of values in audiology, serving as a structured codebook.
• Identified subjective benefit, professional duties, and self-efficacy as core values in current audiologic care.

Conclusions:

• The identified core values (subjective benefit, professional duties, self-efficacy) are essential for future hearing healthcare models.
• Understanding and integrating these values is critical for the successful implementation of new hearing health technologies and service delivery.