Table 4.
Readiness to Offer OTC Hearing Aids.
| Question | Category | Respondents (% *) |
|---|---|---|
| I have the necessary knowledge to counsel patients on OTC hearing aids (n = 85) | Strongly disagree | 37 (43.5) |
| Disagree | 20 (23.5) | |
| Neutral | 21 (24.7) | |
| Agree | 5 (5.9) | |
| Strongly agree | 2 (2.4) | |
| Patients in my community would purchase OTC hearing aids at a community pharmacy for their personal use (n = 85) | Strongly disagree | 4 (4.7) |
| Disagree | 3 (3.5) | |
| Neutral | 19 (22.4) | |
| Agree | 37 (43.5) | |
| Strongly agree | 22 (25.9) | |
| Expected supporting factors as OTC hearing aids become available a (n = 82) | Training and educational resources for pharmacy staff | 70 (85.4) |
| Professional connections to hearing health care professionals like audiologists | 51 (62.2) | |
| Expertise of pharmacy colleagues | 49 (59.8) | |
| Support from place of employment | 44 (53.7) | |
| Supportive leadership | 28 (34.2) | |
| Culture or mission of place of employment | 23 (28.1) | |
| Affiliation with research institutions | 10 (12.2) | |
| Other | 2 (2.4) | |
| Expected barriers as OTC hearing aids become available a (n = 82) | Pharmacist time and workflow constraints | 76 (92.7) |
| Available training and/or continuing education for pharmacists | 54 (65.9) | |
| Level of pharmacist expertise | 54 (65.9) | |
| Staff resources | 48 (58.5) | |
| Patient understanding of appropriate OTC hearing aid use | 34 (41.5) | |
| Support from place of employment | 34 (41.5) | |
| Patient interest in use of OTC hearing aids | 20 (24.4) | |
| Other | 2 (2.4) | |
| When prepared to assist patients with OTC hearing aids, if available today (n = 81) | Within 30 days | 36 (44.4) |
| Within 6 months | 28 (34.6) | |
| Within 1 year | 1 (1.2) | |
| After 1 or more years | 0 (0.0) | |
| I do not intend to offer OTC hearing aids at my pharmacy | 9 (11.1) | |
| Not applicable | 7 (8.6) | |
| Benefits to offering OTC hearing aids at the pharmacy a (n = 81) | Improved patient access to hearing aids | 71 (87.7) |
| Flexible treatment options | 61 (75.3) | |
| Increased patient interest in the use of hearing aids | 42 (51.9) | |
| Increased revenue at my place of employment | 35 (43.2) | |
| Reduction of health risks associated with hearing loss | 33 (40.7) | |
| Other | 1 (1.2) | |
| None | 4 (4.9) | |
| Concerns about offering OTC hearing aids at the pharmacy a (n = 81) | Improper or unsafe use by patients | 54 (66.7) |
| Increased personal or professional liability | 37 (45.7) | |
| Quality of research on OTC hearing aid safety and effectiveness | 32 (39.5) | |
| Lack of patient trust in new technology | 20 (24.7) | |
| Other | 5 (6.2) | |
| None | 9 (11.1) |
* Totals may not add to 100% due to rounding. a Respondents selected all choices that applied.