Measuring Illness Perception in Presbycusis Patients - a Feasibility Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Impact of Illness Perception on NHS Audiology Service Usage in Presbycusis Patients – a Feasibility Study
IRAS ID
182001
Contact name
Helen Pryce
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Aston University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Age-related hearing loss or presbycusis represents the third most commonly experienced chronic impairment in the elderly, which progresses with age (Gates and Cooper, 1991, Wiley et al., 2008, Pedersen et al., 1989, Lee et al., 2005). Despite the high prevalence of presbycusis only a minority of potential patients actually seek help for their condition (Popelka et al., 1998, Smeeth et al., 2002, Smits et al., 2006). Furthermore, only 60-75% of subjects who choose to seek help for their hearing loss and trial hearing aids report regular use of their device/s (Smeeth et al., 2002, Lupsakko et al., 2005, Hickson et al., 1999).
While it is known that many hearing impaired help-seekers might choose not to take up the management options suggested by their audiologist (Gianopoulos and Stephens, 2005, Schumacher and Carruth, 1997), little is known about the factors influencing this behaviour. Research in other common chronic conditions including hypertension, diabetes and asthma showed that patient’s beliefs about their illness were strong predictors for their coping behaviour (Ross et al., 2004, Mann et al., 2009, Horne and Weinman, 2002).
To better understand and predict patients’ coping behaviors to presbycusis, we need to understand their personal beliefs about this disease. Illness perception, as described in Leventhal’s self-regulatory model of illness can be divided into five dimensions (Leventhal et al., 1984, Lau and Hartman, 1983): Identity, consequences, cause, timeline and cure or control over the disease. The Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ) has been developed to measure these dimensions for chronic diseases (Weinman et al., 1996).
It is the ultimate aim of this research to measure illness perception in presbycusis patients. The feasibility study will assess the parameters for future research by exploring different recruitment strategies and modes of questionnaire administration as well as assessing the appropriateness and acceptability of this study to participants.REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0288
Date of REC Opinion
22 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion