Satisfaction with hearing aids among aged patients with different degrees of hearing loss and length of daily use

Background and Objectives: The evaluation of subjective benefits and positive effects of hearing aids in daily is important for measuring the treatment outcome. The aim of this project was to investigate the degree of satisfaction of aged users with their hearing aids using the Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life (SADL) scale, which emphasizes non-auditory factors contributing to satisfaction as well as benefit. Subjects and Methods: The Persian version of SADL scale was completed by 40 patients who received monaural hearing aid fitting at south of the Iran from December 2013 and March 2014. SADL subscales of the SADL were evaluated according to the type and degree of hearing loss, the pure tone audiogram pattern and shape and type of the hearing aid. Results: The results associated with the SADL subscales revealed a greater satisfaction associated with the Positive Effect and Service and Costs subscales. Subjects with different degree of hearing loss were very satisfied in terms of positive effect subscale. Conclusions: Participants reported a considerable level of satisfaction with their hearing aids. Appropriate guidance for using hearing aids and spending more time for counseling can improve the satisfaction level of this age group. © 2015 The Korean Audiological Society

Decomposition of Socioeconomic Inequality in Catastrophic Health Expenditure: An Evidence from Iran

Background: Evidences showed that the incidence of catastrophic health expenditure is unequally distributed among disadvantaged populations. The present study has tried to explain the contributors of this unfair inequality in Hamadan, Iran. Methods: The target population was households that utilized inpatient services in hospitals of Hamadan. A proportional stratified random sampling method was used to determine study sample (N = 770). The associated factors of catastrophic health expenditure were estimated using logistic regression analysis. The inequality of catastrophic health expenditure was measured by concentration index and explained by decomposition analysis. The data were analyzed by using STATA version 12. Results: The key determinants of catastrophic health expenditure were poor economic status, lower household size, lack of supplementary insurance and the number of hospitalizations. The overall concentration index of catastrophic health expenditure in Hamadan was �0.163 (95 CI: �0.242 to �0.083). Household economic status (63.60) and household size (39.90) were considered as the first and the second largest contributors of catastrophic health expenditure inequality, respectively. Conclusion: It is demonstrated that catastrophic health expenditure inequality in Iran could be explained by the factors beyond the health sector scope. Hence, future policy efforts need to consider both health system factors and the factors beyond the health system to eliminate catastrophic health spending burden and its inequality. © 2019 INDIACLE