Towards a Holistic Model Explaining Hearing Protection Device Use among Workers

Olivier Doutres, Jonathan Terroir, Caroline Jolly, Chantal Gauvin, Laurence Martin and Alessia Negrini
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Olivier Doutres: Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS), 1100 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
Jonathan Terroir: Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité (INRS), 1 Rue du Morvan, 54500 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
Caroline Jolly: Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail (IRSST), 505 Boul. De Maisonneuve Ouest, Montréal, QC H3A 3C2, Canada
Chantal Gauvin: Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail (IRSST), 505 Boul. De Maisonneuve Ouest, Montréal, QC H3A 3C2, Canada
Laurence Martin: Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, 7077 av. du Parc, Montréal, QC H3N 1X7, Canada
Alessia Negrini: Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail (IRSST), 505 Boul. De Maisonneuve Ouest, Montréal, QC H3A 3C2, Canada

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-20

Abstract: Offering hearing protection devices (HPDs) to workers exposed to hazardous noise is a noise control strategy often used to prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). However, HPDs are used incorrectly and inconsistently, which explains their limited efficiency. Numerous models based on social cognition theories identify the significant factors associated with inconsistent HPD use and aim to improve HPD training programs and to increase HPD use. However, these models do not detail (dis)comfort aspects originating from complex interactions between characteristics of the triad “environment/person/HPD” while these aspects are known to largely influence HPD (mis)use. This paper proposes a holistic model explaining HPD (mis)use, based on the integration of a comfort model adapted to HPDs into an existing behavioral model already developed for HPDs. The model also takes into account the temporal dimension, which makes it possible to capture the scope of change in HPD-related health behaviors. This holistic description of HPD use could be used as a tool for stakeholders involved in HPD use to effectively prevent NIHL among workers.

Keywords: hearing protection device; comfort model; noise-induced hearing loss prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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