Speech Pathology and Audiology Department, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand.
J Occup Health. 2018 Sep 26;60(5):376-382. doi: 10.1539/joh.2018-0020-OA. Epub 2018 Jul 6.
This study was conducted to explore the scope of practice for occupational audiologists in the mining industry and the audiologists' involvement in hearing conservation programmes in South African mines. Additionally, this study investigated the mining industry's role in the audiologists' involvement, and assessed the audiologists' levels of preparedness for working in occupational audiology.
In-depth, qualitative telephone and face-to face interviews were conducted with seven occupational audiologists involved in the management of occupational, noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) in the South African mining sector. Snowball sampling was utilized to recruit possible participants for this study. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
The following themes were identified: scope-context misalignment, juniorization of the experts, audiologists are important... but for what?, and limited training in occupational audiology.
Our evidence highlights important gaps in HCPs in South Africa. The fact that the audiologists responsible for the management of ONIHL are only minimally and peripherally involved may play a significant role in the lack of progress reported in the management of ONIHL in the South African mining sector.
本研究旨在探讨矿业职业听力学家的实践范围以及听力学家在南非矿山听力保护计划中的参与情况。此外，本研究还调查了采矿业在听力学家参与方面的作用，并评估了听力学家在职业听力学工作方面的准备程度。
对参与管理南非采矿业职业性、噪声性听力损失（ONIHL）的七名职业听力学家进行了深入的定性电话和面对面访谈。采用滚雪球抽样法招募本研究的可能参与者。使用归纳主题分析对数据进行分析。
确定了以下主题：范围-背景不匹配、专家年轻化、听力学家很重要……但为什么？以及职业听力学培训有限。
我们的证据突出了南非卫生保健专业人员的重要差距。负责管理 ONIHL 的听力学家仅处于最小和边缘参与的事实，可能在南非采矿业中报告的 ONIHL 管理缺乏进展方面发挥了重要作用。
