Note: Opinions and ideas expressed are those solely of the study authors and not necessarily of the Ida Institute.

Objective

The term 'patient journey' refers to the experiences and processes the patient goes through during the course of a disease and its treatment.

The study explores the perspectives of adults with acquired hearing impairment and to further develop the patient journey template based on the Ida model.

DesignandSetting

The study takes a qualitative approach using thematic analysis and process mapping.

The setting will be support groups of people with hearing impairment.

Participants

Participants included thirty-two adults with acquired hearing impairment from two hearing impaired groups in Wales.  All were hearing aid users.

MainOutcomeMeasure

Participants worked in small groups to describe their experiences through hearing loss.

This data was used to develop a template of the patients' perspective of the journey. It was then compared with the perspective of professionals and a 'patient journey template for adults with acquired hearing impairment' was developed.

Results

The template identifies seven main phases: 1) Pre-awareness; 2) Awareness; 3) Movement; 4) Diagnostics; 5) Rehabilitation; 6) Self-evaluation; and, 7) Resolution. 

The study identified a number of new components. The self-evaluation component was not defined by professionals and reflects the need for patients to consider the costs, benefits and alternatives to the approach provided by audiologists.  It is important for audiologists to be aware of this.

Conclusion

The study highlighted the differences and commonalities in perspectives of professionals and patients. Use of the patient journey can help clinicians to understand the unique experiences their patients go through and help them develop patient-centered treatment.

RelatedIdaTools

This study is related to the Patient Journey Tool.  

Colleagues

R. Meredith, Audiology Department, Singleton Hospital, ABM University Health Board, Swansea, UK

Publishing

Manchaiah, V., Stephens, D. and Meredith, R. (2011), The patient journey of adults with hearing impairment: the patients' views. Clinical Otolaryngology, 36: 227-234.

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