Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Barriers to and Facilitators of Implementing an Audiology Service Delivery Model in Mauritius’ Public Healthcare Sector

Received: 26 November 2023    Accepted: 13 December 2023    Published: 22 December 2023
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Abstract

Background. Audiology services are an integral part of providing hearing healthcare to the Mauritian population. Aims/Objectives. This study aimed to identify audiologists’ perceptions of the barriers to and facilitators of implementing an audiology service delivery model in Mauritius. Material and Methods. A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured telephonic interviews. Data obtained were scribed and transcribed, and inductive thematic analyses were used to identify themes and subthemes. Using convenience sampling, four audiologists from Mauritius’ public healthcare sector were selected as the study sample. Results. The following main themes were identified during data analysis: infrastructure and resources—human and clinical resources and audiological settings; knowledge—administering tests and further training; protocol and guidelines—audiological norms and referral pathways; appointments—waiting list; technology—information systems and technological devices, and communication—explanation of test results and communication strategies. The results showed that the participants were aware of the various resources available for audiology services, but there were concerns regarding the implementation of standardized guidelines in audiology practice. Conclusion. Overall, the findings suggest that the public healthcare sector’s sizeable availability of resources is conducive to early hearing detection and intervention, which in turn calls for changes to improve healthcare services to the Mauritian population by introducing an early hearing detection and intervention program consistent with international norms and guidelines.

Published in International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijo.20230902.20
Page(s) 40-49
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Audiology, Barriers, Facilitators, Service, Public Healthcare Sector

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Foondun, T., Pottas, L., Soer, M. (2023). Barriers to and Facilitators of Implementing an Audiology Service Delivery Model in Mauritius’ Public Healthcare Sector. International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 9(2), 40-49. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijo.20230902.20

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    ACS Style

    Foondun, T.; Pottas, L.; Soer, M. Barriers to and Facilitators of Implementing an Audiology Service Delivery Model in Mauritius’ Public Healthcare Sector. Int. J. Otorhinolaryngol. 2023, 9(2), 40-49. doi: 10.11648/j.ijo.20230902.20

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    AMA Style

    Foondun T, Pottas L, Soer M. Barriers to and Facilitators of Implementing an Audiology Service Delivery Model in Mauritius’ Public Healthcare Sector. Int J Otorhinolaryngol. 2023;9(2):40-49. doi: 10.11648/j.ijo.20230902.20

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijo.20230902.20,
      author = {Taslima Foondun and Lidia Pottas and Maggi Soer},
      title = {Barriers to and Facilitators of Implementing an Audiology Service Delivery Model in Mauritius’ Public Healthcare Sector},
      journal = {International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology},
      volume = {9},
      number = {2},
      pages = {40-49},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijo.20230902.20},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijo.20230902.20},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijo.20230902.20},
      abstract = {Background. Audiology services are an integral part of providing hearing healthcare to the Mauritian population. Aims/Objectives. This study aimed to identify audiologists’ perceptions of the barriers to and facilitators of implementing an audiology service delivery model in Mauritius. Material and Methods. A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured telephonic interviews. Data obtained were scribed and transcribed, and inductive thematic analyses were used to identify themes and subthemes. Using convenience sampling, four audiologists from Mauritius’ public healthcare sector were selected as the study sample. Results. The following main themes were identified during data analysis: infrastructure and resources—human and clinical resources and audiological settings; knowledge—administering tests and further training; protocol and guidelines—audiological norms and referral pathways; appointments—waiting list; technology—information systems and technological devices, and communication—explanation of test results and communication strategies. The results showed that the participants were aware of the various resources available for audiology services, but there were concerns regarding the implementation of standardized guidelines in audiology practice. Conclusion. Overall, the findings suggest that the public healthcare sector’s sizeable availability of resources is conducive to early hearing detection and intervention, which in turn calls for changes to improve healthcare services to the Mauritian population by introducing an early hearing detection and intervention program consistent with international norms and guidelines.
    },
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Barriers to and Facilitators of Implementing an Audiology Service Delivery Model in Mauritius’ Public Healthcare Sector
    AU  - Taslima Foondun
    AU  - Lidia Pottas
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    Y1  - 2023/12/22
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijo.20230902.20
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijo.20230902.20
    T2  - International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
    JF  - International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
    JO  - International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
    SP  - 40
    EP  - 49
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2472-2413
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijo.20230902.20
    AB  - Background. Audiology services are an integral part of providing hearing healthcare to the Mauritian population. Aims/Objectives. This study aimed to identify audiologists’ perceptions of the barriers to and facilitators of implementing an audiology service delivery model in Mauritius. Material and Methods. A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured telephonic interviews. Data obtained were scribed and transcribed, and inductive thematic analyses were used to identify themes and subthemes. Using convenience sampling, four audiologists from Mauritius’ public healthcare sector were selected as the study sample. Results. The following main themes were identified during data analysis: infrastructure and resources—human and clinical resources and audiological settings; knowledge—administering tests and further training; protocol and guidelines—audiological norms and referral pathways; appointments—waiting list; technology—information systems and technological devices, and communication—explanation of test results and communication strategies. The results showed that the participants were aware of the various resources available for audiology services, but there were concerns regarding the implementation of standardized guidelines in audiology practice. Conclusion. Overall, the findings suggest that the public healthcare sector’s sizeable availability of resources is conducive to early hearing detection and intervention, which in turn calls for changes to improve healthcare services to the Mauritian population by introducing an early hearing detection and intervention program consistent with international norms and guidelines.
    
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa; Speech Therapy and Audiology Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Rose Belle, Mauritius

  • Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

  • Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

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