“You will get better outcomes in the majority of clients, if you focus on what they need, what is important to them.”
- Alex Griffiths-Brown, Audiologist, UK
Better outcomes
Studies from across healthcare show that the person-centered approach leads to fewer symptoms, better recovery, improved emotional health and psychological well-being, and higher quality of life.
For example, a 2018 study found consistent evidence that patient- and family-centered care improve patients' knowledge about their health and their skills to manage self-care behaviors, and increase quality of life.
Within hearing care, studies have shown that:
- patient-centered communication has a positive bearing on audiological outcomes (Bellon-Harn et al, 2019)
- self-reported tinnitus disability improves more when motivational interviewing (a core PCC technique) is used (Zarenoe et al, 2016)
- individualized hearing rehabilitation can improve communication and quality of life in care home residents with dementia (Cross et al, 2022)
What do hearing care professionals say?
“Learning person-centered care is the best decision you can possibly make for your patients and for your clinic. It increases patient satisfaction, it increases clinician satisfaction, it decreases time wasted during the appointment, and it leads to better outcomes for your patient.”
- Silva Kuschke, Head of Department and Chief Audiologist at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, South Africa