Motivational Interviewing for Hearing Loss

(MI-HAT Trial)

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of British Columbia

Disqualifiers: Prior hearing aid use, Non-English speakers, Inconsistent audiometry, Medical constraints, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 3 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 12 months

180 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Hearing loss is one of the most common chronic disabilities in the older adult population and affects their quality of life. Hearing aid use can improve one's quality of life by increasing a person's ability to detect, differentiate and locate sound, and improve speech recognition. Several factors seem to reduce motivation to use a hearing aid. Fears of exclusion and shame due to hearing loss are major deterrents to hearing aid use. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a counselling style aimed at creating desire in patients to change their behavior. There have been pilot studies that suggest one-on-one MI can increase hearing aid use, but other pilot studies found the reverse hence the evidence is inconclusive. The effectiveness of group MI therapy is also being investigated in MI research. While results in group MI research are promising, studies investigating group MI have been limited to substance abuse.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on hearing aid use and motivational interviewing, so it's unlikely that your medications would be affected.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Motivational Interviewing for Hearing Loss?

Motivational Interviewing (MI) has been shown to help people change their behavior by focusing on their personal motivations, and studies are exploring its use to encourage more consistent use of hearing aids among those with hearing loss. While specific results for hearing loss are still being studied, MI has been effective in other areas like increasing adherence to medical treatments, suggesting it could help with hearing aid use as well. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Motivational Interviewing safe for humans?

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is generally considered safe as it is a counseling approach that focuses on enhancing motivation and commitment to change in a supportive and empathetic environment. It has been used in various settings without reports of harm, emphasizing patient-centered communication. ^{1 2 3 5 6}

How is Motivational Interviewing different from other treatments for hearing loss?

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is unique because it focuses on enhancing a person's own motivation to change their behavior, such as increasing hearing aid use, through patient-centered counseling. Unlike other treatments that may directly address hearing loss, MI helps individuals explore and resolve their ambivalence (mixed feelings) about using hearing aids, making it a novel approach for improving hearing aid adoption. ^{1 2 5 7 8}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults over 18 who are new to using hearing aids and have a certain level of hearing loss in one or both ears. They must understand English as the motivational interviewing and questionnaires will be in this language. People with previous hearing aid experience, inconsistent hearing tests, or medical issues preventing hearing aid use cannot join.

Inclusion Criteria

Your hearing in the worse ear is not very good, with a hearing threshold above 25 decibels at certain frequencies.

You recently started using a hearing aid.

Exclusion Criteria

Have medical constraints that prohibit them from wearing hearing aids

Do not understand the English language

I cannot complete questionnaires in English.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants in the treatment group attend a 1-hour MI group session and receive standard audiological care. Control group receives standard care only.

12 months

Initial visit, and at 1, 3, 6, and 12-month time points

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for adherence to hearing aid use and effectiveness of motivational interviewing

12 months

Assessments at 1, 3, 6, and 12-month time points

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Motivational Interviewing

Trial Overview The study is testing whether motivational interviewing (MI), a type of counseling that encourages behavior change, can increase the use of hearing aids among new users. It aims to address fears and shame associated with wearing aids by fostering motivation.

Participant Groups

Group I: Treatment Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Treatment groups that undergo motivational interviewing with audiological care

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Control groups that undergo standard audiological care

Motivational Interviewing is already approved in United States, European Union, Canada for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Motivational Interviewing for:

• Substance Use Disorders
• Mental Health Conditions

Approved in European Union as Motivational Interviewing for:

• Addiction Treatment
• Behavioral Health Interventions

Approved in Canada as Motivational Interviewing for:

• Substance Abuse Treatment
• Mental Health Counseling

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of British Columbia

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,506

Recruited

2,528,000+

Findings from Research

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an effective, evidence-based method for helping caregivers support individuals in making health behavior changes by addressing their ambivalence.

The success of MI relies on creating a warm, empathetic environment that fosters patient self-efficacy and involves key techniques like expressing empathy and developing discrepancies in patient behavior.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Motivational interviewing: some theoretical aspects and some practical exercises]. Gache, P., Fortini, C., Meynard, A., et al.[2007]

A workshop introducing motivational advising (MA) techniques to 48 medical educators was well-received, with over 80% expressing interest in further learning and over 60% wanting to implement MA with their advisees.

The workshop significantly increased participants' knowledge of MA, suggesting it is an effective tool for helping medical learners overcome challenges in their career development.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Motivational Advising Workshop: Utilizing Motivational Interviewing Theory to Facilitate and Engage Intrinsic Motivation to Change Learners' Behavior. Parekh, K., Benningfield, M., Burrows, H., et al.[2020]

Motivational interviewing (MI) has shown a strong short-term effectiveness in promoting readiness for change, with an average effect size of 0.77 across 72 clinical trials, although this effect diminishes to 0.30 at follow-ups up to one year.

The effectiveness of MI is notably higher among ethnic minority populations and when not strictly following a manual, indicating that flexibility in its application may enhance its impact.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Motivational interviewing. Hettema, J., Steele, J., Miller, WR.[2022]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of motivational interviewing in new hearing aid users (MI-HAT): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Motivational Interviewing for Hearing Aid Use: A Systematic Meta-Analysis on Its Potential for Adult Patients with Hearing Loss. [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bridging the Gap Between Hearing Screening and Successful Rehabilitation: Research Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Motivational Interviewing via Internet. [2016]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of motivational interviewing on hearing-aid use. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Evaluation of Motivational Interviewing for Increasing Hearing Aid Use: A Pilot Study. [2020]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Motivational interviewing: some theoretical aspects and some practical exercises]. [2007]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Motivational Advising Workshop: Utilizing Motivational Interviewing Theory to Facilitate and Engage Intrinsic Motivation to Change Learners' Behavior. [2020]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Motivational interviewing. [2022]