Audiology, Medicine, and Pharmacy Interprofessional Preliminary Interviews and Discussions: Improving Hearing Health Care in Rural Alabama.
Emma B Brothers, Marcia J Hay-McCutcheon, Peter J Hughes...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35737896Actively Recruiting
Phase Not Applicable
Age: 18Years +
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers
ID06864273
Assessing Pharmacy Technician Training for Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Provision in Rural Alabama and Mississippi Pharmacies
Led by University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa · Updated on 2025-08-13
144
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Hearing loss affects emotional well-being, cognition, and physical health, especially in rural areas where access to audiologists is limited. This study evaluates an educational training program for pharmacy technicians to help adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss in rural Alabama and Mississippi. The goal is to create a new care model that improves access and affordability of hearing healthcare using over-the-counter hearing aids (OTC HAs). Pharmacy technicians will undergo a stepped-wedge training program with four stages: no training, online modules, online discussions, and practical experience assisting adults with bilateral hearing loss. The practical phase includes using hearing screening equipment and setting OTC hearing aid controls. Adults with hearing loss will receive support from these trained technicians in rural community pharmacies. Participants will complete quizzes and confidence surveys before and after training. Adults receiving care will complete surveys on satisfaction, hearing handicap, and hearing aid benefit over four weeks of hearing aid use. This study aims to establish a collaborative model between audiologists and pharmacists, improving hearing healthcare availability in underserved rural communities while monitoring training effectiveness and patient outcomes.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Assessing Pharmacy Technician Educational Training for the Provision of Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids in Rural Alabama and Mississippi Pharmacies
Who Can Participate
Age: 18Years +
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Pharmacy technicians licensed to practice in Alabama or Mississippi
- Pharmacy technicians practicing in rural communities of Alabama and Mississippi
- Adults 18 years or older with mild to moderate hearing loss living in rural Alabama or Mississippi
You will not qualify if you...
- Pharmacy technicians with hearing loss who may have prior knowledge of hearing care
- Adults 18 years or older with normal hearing
- Adults with hearing loss living in urban areas of Alabama or Mississippi
- Individuals with medical conditions causing cognitive impairment, such as mental health disorders, stroke, head injury, dementia, or Alzheimer's disease
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
1
2
3
Your Study Journey
Screening
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Pharmacy Technician Educational Training
Duration - 16 weeks
Pharmacy technicians progress through four sequential steps of educational training including no training, online modules, online discussions, and practical experiences to assist with the provision of over-the-counter hearing aids.
Weekly visits or online sessions during the training steps
Participant Hearing Aid Use and Assessment
Duration - 4 weeks
Adults with hearing loss use over-the-counter hearing aids and complete surveys assessing satisfaction, hearing handicap, and hearing aid benefit after the practicum.
1 to 2 visits depending on survey completion and hearing aid use
Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
The Department of Communicative Disorders, Box 870242
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States, 35487-0242
Actively Recruiting
2
The Department of Communicative Disorders
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States, 35487-0242
Actively Recruiting
Loading map...
Research Team
M
Marcia J Hay-McCutcheon, PhD
A
Abigail Hubbard, AuD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
1
Similar Trials
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions? Get in touch with our team for quick support
Not the Right Trial for You?
Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.
Already have an account? Log in here