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. 2022 May 4;19(9):5578.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095578.

Towards a Holistic Model Explaining Hearing Protection Device Use among Workers

Olivier Doutres  1 , Jonathan Terroir  2 , Caroline Jolly  3 , Chantal Gauvin  3 , Laurence Martin  4 , Alessia Negrini  3
Affiliations

Towards a Holistic Model Explaining Hearing Protection Device Use among Workers

Olivier Doutres et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Offering hearing protection devices (HPDs) to workers exposed to hazardous noise is a noise control strategy often used to prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). However, HPDs are used incorrectly and inconsistently, which explains their limited efficiency. Numerous models based on social cognition theories identify the significant factors associated with inconsistent HPD use and aim to improve HPD training programs and to increase HPD use. However, these models do not detail (dis)comfort aspects originating from complex interactions between characteristics of the triad "environment/person/HPD" while these aspects are known to largely influence HPD (mis)use. This paper proposes a holistic model explaining HPD (mis)use, based on the integration of a comfort model adapted to HPDs into an existing behavioral model already developed for HPDs. The model also takes into account the temporal dimension, which makes it possible to capture the scope of change in HPD-related health behaviors. This holistic description of HPD use could be used as a tool for stakeholders involved in HPD use to effectively prevent NIHL among workers.

Keywords: comfort model; hearing protection device; noise-induced hearing loss prevention.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
HPD comfort model. Acronyms used in this figure: “Fitting/Positioning” phase (F), the “Interaction” phase (I), the “internal Human body effects” phase (H) and the “Perception” phase (P); Comfort (C), Discomfort (D) or feel Neutral (N); Hearing Protection Device (HPD), Field Attenuation Estimation System (FAES), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Time-independent model of HPD use.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Time-dependent holistic model of HPD use.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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