Department of Psychology, The University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
Department of Psychology, The Catholic University, Milan, Italy.
Health Soc Care Community. 2022 Sep;30(5):e1775-e1784. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13606. Epub 2021 Oct 12.
Despite widespread hearing problems among older adults, only a minority of them use hearing aids. The decision to rely on hearing aids is influenced by several psychosocial factors, which may include attitudes influenced by significant others, particularly caregivers and health professionals. The language used by professionals when approaching this topic is particularly important. The purpose of this study was to deepen the role played by different communication styles in the area of hearing impairment by analysing the impact of language-medical versus everyday-used in the doctor-patient interaction on attitudes and behavioural intentions in a sample of potential caregivers of older adults. 209 Italian volunteers aged between 19 and 60 completed an online experimental study. The results suggested that, when interacting with doctors, exposure to a language that includes medical words promotes negative attitudes towards hearing loss. Nevertheless, medical language induces positive attitudes towards hearing aids and encourages people to adopt them when needed as well as recommending them to relatives and friends. Overall, the use of formal, medical language in doctor-patient communication, despite sounding less reassuring, is more effective in persuading people with hearing loss to rely on hearing aids.
尽管老年人普遍存在听力问题，但只有少数人使用助听器。是否依赖助听器的决定受到多种社会心理因素的影响，其中可能包括受重要他人（特别是护理人员和卫生专业人员）影响的态度。专业人员在处理这个话题时使用的语言尤为重要。本研究旨在通过分析医患互动中语言（医学用语与日常用语）对潜在老年护理人员样本中态度和行为意向的影响，深入探讨不同沟通方式在听力障碍领域所扮演的角色。209 名年龄在 19 岁至 60 岁之间的意大利志愿者完成了一项在线实验研究。结果表明，与医生互动时，接触包含医学词汇的语言会导致对听力损失的负面态度。然而，医学语言会促使人们对助听器产生积极的态度，并鼓励他们在需要时使用助听器，以及向亲属和朋友推荐助听器。总体而言，尽管听起来不太令人安心，但在医患沟通中使用正式的医学语言更能有效地说服听力损失的人依赖助听器。
