Quar T Kar, Lim Y Feng, Rashid Mohd F N, Chu S Ying, Chong F Yen
Audiology Program, Centre for Rehabilitation and Special Needs (iCaRehab), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Audiology Program, School of Health Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2024 Jul;35(7-08):204-213. doi: 10.1055/s-0044-1791214. Epub 2024 Dec 19.
Many hearing aid manufacturers have developed application programs that allow audiologists to fine-tune or adjust their patients' hearing aids remotely. This study aims to explore audiologists' experiences in using the remote hearing aid adjustment in Malaysia.
This is a qualitative research design where focus group discussions among audiologists were held. The interview data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify patterns and reconstruct meaning.
Ten audiologists with at least 1 year of work experience in providing remote hearing aid adjustment services to adult patients were recruited.
Even though there has been an increased utilization of remote fine-tuning among audiologists in Malaysia due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, its use among audiologists remains limited at present. Five thematic areas were identified: "Adoption of Practice," "Challenges and Limitations," "Benefits and Opportunities," "Satisfaction," and "Recommendations for Improvement." The TedAP challenges (T-technical challenges: e-ease of use, d-digital competency; A-abuse of system, and P-physical examinations) have been identified under the "Challenges and Limitations" theme. Suggestions for improvement include integrating the applications and video calls on a common platform, assigning a "standby" trained audiologist, and incorporating remote fine-tuning into audiology education.
Challenges and limitations associated with the provision of tele-audiology have been documented based on the views and experiences of audiologists in Malaysia. Despite the barriers, audiologists acknowledged the benefits associated with remote systems and recommendations were provided to improve the services. The results of this study could contribute to the increase in the use of tele-audiology in Malaysia. This would be instrumental in developing further the audiology profession in terms of the adoption of tele-audiology and telehealth in Malaysia.
许多助听器制造商已开发出应用程序，使听力学家能够远程微调或调整患者的助听器。本研究旨在探讨马来西亚听力学家使用远程助听器调整的经验。
这是一项定性研究设计，对听力学家进行了焦点小组讨论。使用反思性主题分析对访谈数据进行分析，以识别模式并重构意义。
招募了10名在为成年患者提供远程助听器调整服务方面至少有1年工作经验的听力学家。
尽管由于2019年冠状病毒病大流行，马来西亚听力学家对远程微调的使用有所增加，但目前其在听力学家中的使用仍然有限。确定了五个主题领域：“实践采用”、“挑战与限制”、“益处与机会”、“满意度”以及“改进建议”。在“挑战与限制”主题下确定了TedAP挑战（T-技术挑战：e-易用性，d-数字能力；A-系统滥用，P-体格检查）。改进建议包括在一个通用平台上整合应用程序和视频通话、安排一名“待命”的经过培训的听力学家，以及将远程微调纳入听力学教育。
根据马来西亚听力学家的观点和经验，记录了与提供远程听力学相关的挑战和限制。尽管存在障碍，但听力学家承认远程系统的益处并提供了改进服务的建议。本研究结果有助于增加马来西亚远程听力学的使用。这将有助于在马来西亚采用远程听力学和远程医疗方面进一步发展听力学专业。
