(1229) Implementation Strategies for over the Counter (OTC) Hearing Aid Services: A Qualitative Analysis of Independent Community Pharmacies

Objectives: The objective of this study is to gather implementation strategies for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid services in independent community pharmacies. Hearing loss is highly prevalent, yet the majority of patients with hearing impairment do not use hearing aids. Barriers to receiving hearing care include cost of care and access to devices. Beginning in October 2022, OTC hearing aids were made commercially available in the United States. Pharmacists can help address the aforementioned barriers by having OTC hearing aids available in their pharmacies and assessing patients for eligibility for hearing self-care. This makes community pharmacies an ideal location for the implementation of OTC hearing aid services. The data collected will identify strategies that independent community pharmacies across the country can utilize to effectively incorporate OTC hearing aids into their enhanced services models.

Methods: Independent community pharmacists with expertise in OTC hearing aid services are eligible to participate. WE WILL WORK WITH MANAGING NETWORK FACILITATORS FROM COMMUNITY PHARMACY ENHANCED SERVICES NETWORKS TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS. EXPERTISE IN OTC HEARING AID SERVICES IS DEFINED AS PHARMACISTS WHO HAVE AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT OTC HEARING AIDS AND WHO HAVE OR ARE INTERESTED IN IMPLEMENTING THIS SERVICE IN THEIR PHARMACY. Purposeful sampling will be utilized to identify key informants and provide representation from THE NORTHEAST, MIDWEST, SOUTH, AND WEST REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES. An interview guide will be developed consisting of open-ended questions informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Pilot interviews will be conducted to further refine the interview guide. Semi-structured interviews of key informants will gather information on OTC hearing aid services and strategies to best implement services supporting hearing health at community pharmacies. Interviews will be audio recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. Interviews will be conducted until data saturation, defined as when no new information is elicited from participants, is reached. A codebook will be developed by the research team and transcripts will be independently coded by two investigators using NVivo qualitative analysis software. Coding discrepancies will be resolved through discussion. A mixed deductive-inductive thematic analysis will be performed and implementation strategies will be identified. This study IS APPROVED by the University’s Institutional Review Board.

Results: Interviews are planned to begin JANUARY 2024. This research is ongoing.

Conclusions: Community pharmacies are highly accessible healthcare locations that will play an important role in expanding the availability of OTC hearing aids and hearing care to patients. The strategies generated by pharmacists in this study will enable pharmacy teams nationwide to effectively implement OTC hearing aid services.