PRIMARY PHYSICIANS AND THE ELDERLY HEARING-IMPAIRED - ACTIONS AND ATTITUDES

This study was undertaken in the Valby health district in Copenhagen i n order to evaluate the activities and attitudes of GPs concerning hea ring problems in their elderly patients. Among 55 GPs offering health services to the 2915 residents greater than or equal to 80 years of ag e in the district, 76% (n = 42) responded to a structured questionnair e or personal interview, evaluating their line of action concerning he aring problems, and their knowledge and attitudes towards hearing aids (HAs). Among the responding GPs, 7% always seek information on the he aring ability of their elderly patients at the defined age, whereas 14 % never focus on the hearing; 45% of the GPs always refer to an ENT sp ecialist when hearing problems are present, which causes further delay in the rehabilitation process and increases costs within the primary health care sector. GPs' attitudes to HAs seem to be changing in a pos itive way, 91% of them revealing a positive attitude to HAs, and 86% i ndicating that a HA is capable of ameliorating a hearing problem in th e elderly. Irrespective of this positive attitude, the knowledge of ty pes of HAs among GPs seems limited. The study cannot support the idea of making HAs prescribable by GPs unless they are first offered intens ive courses on audiology.