OiSaeng Hong, PhD, RN, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 N. Ingalls, Rm 3186, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 734.763.3450, oshong@umich.edu

Along with new technology and advancements in computers, computer-based health screening and education has been able to effectively utilize multimedia in making programs more attractive and interactive to the viewer. There are numerous potential uses of multimedia in worker training. In this study an interactive computer-based hearing screening test and tailored intervention was developed to address noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), which is a threat for more than 30 million workers in the United States. The program was developed by a multidisciplinary team of scriptwriters, audio, video and film production specialists, graphic designers, computer programmers, audiologist, and nurse researchers in the fields of occupational and environmental health and safety.

As this interactive computer-based program was a new way to provide hearing test and information about how to protect hearing to construction workers, workers’ acceptability to using computer was the primary interest. The program was successfully implemented at a construction trade union training center from 2001-2002 and evaluated its feasibility by obtaining participants’ feedback from a total of 773 workers. Although participants were middle-aged (mean age= 43) and not using computer much (35%-never, 40%-sometime), they were highly satisfied with the computer-based program.

The majority of them (over 96%) liked getting hearing test and training. Almost all participants (99%) said they would recommend the program to others. This project is considered as one of the first ones incorporating multimedia computer technology with hearing screening and tailored training. Participants’ favorable feedback strongly supported the continued development of this approach.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the significance of periodic hearing screening and hearing protection training to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.
• Describe development process of multimedia hearing screening and training program.

Keywords: Computer-Assisted, Health Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.