Perception of hearing protectors by workers that participate in hearing preservation programs: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the workers' perception of comfort and use aspects regarding two types of hearing protectors (shell and earplug), in three units from a lumbering company, with different implantation times for Hearing Preservation Programs. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study comparing 440 workers' perception of hearing protectors, from three companies in Paraná State (Brazil), with different times for Hearing Preservation Programs. Two closed questionnaires were applied (9 and 10 questions, respectively), with a scale of answers varying from 1 to 5 (Likert's scale) regarding the perception of the comfort of hearing protectors. Then, audiometry results were analyzed. RESULTS: About 17.5% presented audiogram examinations with alterations. With regard to the questionnaire about the comfort perception, the importance of noise attenuation (mean of 4.25) was the most relevant aspect, followed by communication possibility (mean of 4.15). In the protector assessment, Unit A with more Hearing Preservation Program time presented better scores for both the worker's perception of important aspects regarding hearing protector and for the assessment of the used hearing protector. There was a significant difference on communication difficulty with the use of a hearing protector among workers with normal and altered audiograms (p=0.0371). With regard to the global comfort in the comparison of workers using the shell-type hearing protector with those using insert-type hearing protectors, there was no difference (p=0.2264), irrespective of the type of the unit. CONCLUSION: In general, the unit workers presented a good perception of the important aspects about the hearing protection use of both types of hearing protectors.

Perception of hearing protectors by workers that participate in hearing preservation programs: a preliminary study / A percepção sobre protetores auriculares por trabalhadores participantes de programas de preservação auditiva: estudo preliminar

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the workers' perception of comfort and use aspects regarding two types of hearing protectors (shell and earplug), in three units from a lumbering company, with different implantation times for Hearing Preservation Programs.METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study comparing 440 workers' perception of hearing protectors, from three companies in Paraná State (Brazil), with different times for Hearing Preservation Programs. Two closed questionnaires were applied (9 and 10 questions, respectively), with a scale of answers varying from 1 to 5 (Likert's scale) regarding the perception of the comfort of hearing protectors. Then, audiometry results were analyzed.RESULTS: About 17.5% presented audiogram examinations with alterations. With regard to the questionnaire about the comfort perception, the importance of noise attenuation (mean of 4.25) was the most relevant aspect, followed by communication possibility (mean of 4.15). In the protector assessment, Unit A with more Hearing Preservation Program time presented better scores for both the worker's perception of important aspects regarding hearing protector and for the assessment of the used hearing protector. There was a significant difference on communication difficulty with the use of a hearing protector among workers with normal and altered audiograms (p=0.0371). With regard to the global comfort in the comparison of workers using the shell-type hearing protector with those using insert-type hearing protectors, there was no difference (p=0.2264), irrespective of the type of the unit.CONCLUSION: In general, the unit workers presented a good perception of the important aspects about the hearing protection use of both types of hearing protectors.

OBJETIVO: avaliar e comparar a percepção de trabalhadores sobre aspectos de conforto e uso de dois tipos de protetores auriculares (tipo concha e inserção) em três unidades de uma empresa madeireira com tempos diferentes de implantação de Programas de Preservação Auditiva (PPA).MÉTODOS: trata-se de um estudo transversal, que comparou a percepção de 440 trabalhadores de três unidades de empresa do estado do Paraná, com tempos diferentes de Programa de Preservação Auditiva, sobre protetores auriculares. Foram aplicados dois questionários fechados (9 e 10 questões) com escala de respostas de 1 a 5 (escala Likert) sobre percepção de conforto de protetores auriculares e analisadas as audiometrias.RESULTADOS: 17,5% apresentaram audiogramas alterados. Em relação ao questionário de percepção de conforto, a importância da atenuação do ruído (média 4,25) foi o aspecto mais relevante, seguido da possibilidade de comunicação (média 4,15). Na avaliação do protetor utilizado, a Unidade A com mais tempo de PPA apresentou pontuações melhores tanto para a percepção dos aspectos importantes do protetor auricular pelos trabalhadores quanto na avaliação do protetor auricular utilizado. Houve diferença significativa sobre a dificuldade de comunicação com o uso de protetor auricular entre trabalhadores com audiogramas normais e alterados (p=0,0371). Quanto ao conforto global na comparação dos trabalhadores usuários do protetor auricular do tipo concha com os do tipo inserção, não houve diferença (p=0,2264) independente da Unidade.CONCLUSÃO: Em geral, os trabalhadores das unidades apresentaram uma boa percepção de aspectos importantes da proteção auditiva para a utilização de ambos os tipos de protetores auriculares.