TY - JOUR
T1 - Hearing Aid Instruction Booklets
T2 - employing usability-testing to determine effectiveness
AU - Brooke, Ruth E
AU - Isherwood, Sarah
AU - Herbert, Nicholas C
AU - Raynor, David K
AU - Knapp, Peter
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - PURPOSE: This study implemented performance-based usability- and literature-testing to determine whether people could use two instruction booklets for hearing aids (HAs) to carry out basic maintenance tasks and find and understand key facts. METHOD: Using a cross-sectional study design, 40 participants (25 female, aged 46-72 years) with no experience of HAs or audiology services were recruited to test instruction booklets for a Danalogic and Unitron HA (20 participants each). Participants were asked to follow instructions provided within the booklets to complete common HA tasks (for example cleaning the HA and mould and changing the battery) and demonstrate understanding of information. Participants' views of the booklets were then obtained within a short individual interview. RESULTS: Participants experienced problems in completing all tasks whilst following instructions provided by the Danalogic and Unitron booklets. Individual interviews highlighted further issues regarding layout, diagrams and content, including missing information. CONCLUSIONS: Some HA instruction booklets contain information which some users may find difficult to find, understand and follow. These limitations may negatively impact on HA satisfaction and use. It is recommended that written information for clients is evaluated prior to use and this study supports that performance-based usability- and literature-testing are appropriate methods to use.
AB - PURPOSE: This study implemented performance-based usability- and literature-testing to determine whether people could use two instruction booklets for hearing aids (HAs) to carry out basic maintenance tasks and find and understand key facts. METHOD: Using a cross-sectional study design, 40 participants (25 female, aged 46-72 years) with no experience of HAs or audiology services were recruited to test instruction booklets for a Danalogic and Unitron HA (20 participants each). Participants were asked to follow instructions provided within the booklets to complete common HA tasks (for example cleaning the HA and mould and changing the battery) and demonstrate understanding of information. Participants' views of the booklets were then obtained within a short individual interview. RESULTS: Participants experienced problems in completing all tasks whilst following instructions provided by the Danalogic and Unitron booklets. Individual interviews highlighted further issues regarding layout, diagrams and content, including missing information. CONCLUSIONS: Some HA instruction booklets contain information which some users may find difficult to find, understand and follow. These limitations may negatively impact on HA satisfaction and use. It is recommended that written information for clients is evaluated prior to use and this study supports that performance-based usability- and literature-testing are appropriate methods to use.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84871529618&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1044/1059-0889(2012/12-0008)
DO - 10.1044/1059-0889(2012/12-0008)
M3 - Article
C2 - 22718322
SN - 1558-9137
VL - 21
SP - 206
EP - 214
JO - American journal of audiology
JF - American journal of audiology
IS - 2
ER -