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A Survey of Knowledge and Attitude of College Students Toward Hearing Loss Prevention

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Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background: College students risk hearing loss due to loud sound exposure during leisure activities. Hearing loss prevention is possible by reducing the noise from the source, using hearing protection devices and increasing their knowledge and awareness on the effects of loud sound exposure. Objective: The study aims to assess the knowledge and attitude of college students regarding hearing loss and its prevention. Study design: A cross-sectional study design with a survey method was adopted. A total of 94 college students (mean age: 22 years; range: 18 to 26) who were pursuing an undergraduate and postgraduate degree (50 males and 44 females) formed the part of the study. The researcher administered a standardized self-reported Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviour questionnaire. The knowledge score in percentage and absolute scores for attitude were estimated. Results: The mean knowledge score was 35.8 (SD ± 12.18; range: 12.5–75), and the attitude score was + 9.8 (SD ± 7.1; range: − 4 to + 30). Chi square test revealed no significant association between knowledge and attitude to sociodemographic characteristics. Conclusion: The study indicated that though college students lack knowledge, they had a positive attitude regarding hearing health and its protection. These findings implicate the importance of creating awareness and encouraging hearing protection strategies for college students.

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Data Availability

The data sets are available with corresponding author and will be provided through contacting through mail.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from any agency in the public, commercial or not -for- profit specific sector.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Audiology Medical Services, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

    Tony Jacob

  2. Department of Speech and Hearing, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India

    Kanaka Ganapathy & Bhargavi P.G.

Authors
  1. Tony Jacob
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  2. Kanaka Ganapathy
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  3. Bhargavi P.G.
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Contributions

TJ: contributions towards data collection, documentation, and intellectual substance; KG: contributions to the idea, interpretation, intellectual substance of the paper, and draft of the manuscript; BPG: intellectual substance, draft of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kanaka Ganapathy.

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Ethical Approval

The study was approved by Manipal College of Health Professions Institutional Research Committee, and ethical clearance was obtained from KMC and KH Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC 581/2016).

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All authors consented to the research paper and agreed to be responsible for all work.

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All authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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Jacob, T., Ganapathy, K. & P.G., B. A Survey of Knowledge and Attitude of College Students Toward Hearing Loss Prevention. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 76, 1841–1847 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-023-04424-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-023-04424-7

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