The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of hearing impairment amongst dentists who are working in the Netherlands.
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Hearing disorders
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
Test results (SRT scores) will be analysed for descriptive statistics.
Secondary outcome
Secondary study parameters that will be studied are sex, age, handedness,
duration of working activity, use of loud dental equipment and subjective
judgment about the personal hearing ability and complaints about hearing. The
exposure to recreational noise and the use of hearing protection devices (HPDs)
will be inventoried as potential bias factors.
Furthermore the BOC test results will be compared to the outcomes of the
pure-tone audiometry, at least for the participants with a positive test result
on the BOC.
Background summary
During their daily clinical routines, dentists have been using loud equipment.
Studies where sound pressure levels of dental equipment was measured have found
levels up to 99,5 dB. Even though dental equipment exceeds noise levels of 85
dB(A), little is known about the time weighted average noise exposure of the
Dutch dentists. Several factors suggest that dentists working in the
Netherlands are at risk of developing occupational NIHL. Unfortunately, no
objective data about the condition of their hearing is currently known.
Study objective
The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of hearing
impairment amongst dentists who are working in the Netherlands.
Study design
A cross-sectional study design will be followed to objectify the hearing
ability of dental practitioners and a group of health care professionals that
are not exposed to occupational noise (ideally general practitioners). Data
collecting will consist of three parts, whereof two are taken online.
Quantitative and objective data regarding speech reception in noise will be
obtained by the participants* responses to an online hearing test. Qualitative
or subjective data will be obtained using an online questionnaire. Depending on
the outcome of the BOC, a subset of the participants that have an unfavourable
outcome will be invited to take a pure-tone audiometry test to further explore
the type and most likely cause of the hearing loss.
Study burden and risks
Since this study is observational, the burden for the patient is minimal. The
majority of the participants will perform short and easy online tests that can
be done at home at a day and time convenient to the participant. If a pure-tone
audiometry test will be done, this will be similar or equal to those done in
clinical practice.
Meibergdreef 9
Amsterdam 1105 AZ
NL
Meibergdreef 9
Amsterdam 1105 AZ
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
Graduate dentists and health care professionals
Working in general practice in the Netherlands
Age 20 to 70
Native speaker of the Dutch language
Exclusion criteria
Language problems
General disorders or use of medication that are known for influencing the hearing sensitivity
Extensive exposure from leisure activities
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL51568.018.14 |