328 million adults and 32 million children worldwide have significant hearing loss, reducing quality of life, productivity and causing developmental delay in children.
Ear, nose and throat (ENT) problems are amongst the commonest reasons for seeking medical help in primary care (25%) and emergency departments.
There is a global shortage of ENT specialists.
Medical students, doctors and nurses receive very limited training in this important area.
GOALS
- Reduce the impact of hearing loss and ENT disease on individuals and communities worldwide
- Ensure primary health care workers can recognise hearing loss and refer safely and appropriately
- Raise public awareness of hearing loss and ENT disease
SOLUTIONS
- Work with international experts to develop appropriate, high-quality learning materials for each audience and region
- Gather clinical videos in our target regions (to increase engagement and local relevance)
- Highlight key clinical skills and practical procedures through video demonstration
- Engage with users to shape materials and obtain learner/user feedback
- Assess the impact on knowledge, skills and decision making of health workers; and on patients’ attitudes to hearing loss and ENT disease
TARGETS
- Develop a resource for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals for Africa, Asia and Europe
- Produce a for community health workers focusing on hearing loss and treatment/prevention of ENT disease
- Provide patient education videos to encourage people to seek appropriate help for hearing loss and ENT problems
- Use interviews, focus groups and informal feedback to understand the views of learners, educators, policy makers and key opinion leaders
- Assess the impact on knowledge, skills and decision making of health workers; and on patients’ attitudes to hearing loss and ENT disease
