Affiliations: Department ENT/Audiology and EMGO Institute for Health
and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the
Netherlands | Department of Public and Occupational Health and EMGO
Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam, the Netherlands | Medical Library, VU University, Amsterdam, the
Netherlands | Research Center for Insurance Medicine AMC-UWV-VUmc,
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Note: [] Corresponding author: Arjenne H.M. Gussenhoven, Department
ENT/Audiology, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University
Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Tel.: +31 20
4440900; Fax: +31 20 4440983; E-mail: a.gussenhoven@vumc.nl
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The goal of this review was to list and summarize
work-related health programs for employees with hearing difficulties and to
summarize the statistical evidence of the effectiveness of these programs. METHODS: A systematic review was performed by searching the PubMed,
EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and The Cochrane Library databases for relevant
citations. From 2313 unique citations retrieved from the search strategy, we
included nine programs that met all inclusion criteria. The authors assessed
the methodological quality of studies which evaluated the program's
effectiveness, using the Downs and Black checklist. RESULTS: Nine vocational rehabilitation programs for people with
hearing difficulties were described. The programs differed in procedure,
duration, setting, and content. In four studies, the effectiveness of the
program was explored statistically. Measurements showed an improvement in
general health (SF-36), communication strategies, and the degree of work
readiness, but none of these studies included a control group, a power
calculation, nor adjusted for confounding. Hence, the methodological quality to
provide evidence of effectiveness was assessed as poor. DISCUSSION: Existing vocational programs for employees with hearing
difficulties provide relevant information to demonstrate how to implement the
appropriate content of the programs. Future research is required to improve the
strength of evidence of the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation for
workers with hearing difficulties.
