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Semin Hear 2023; 44(03): 319-327
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1769623
Review Article

Barriers to Adoption of Digital Therapeutics (DTx) into Audiology Clinical Practice: Acknowledging the Challenges, Adapting to the Future

Melissa J. Roberts
1   Discipline of Audiology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
,
Wayne J. Wilson
1   Discipline of Audiology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
,
Matthieu Recugnat
2   Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University, Macquarie, NSW, Australia
3   School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Fabrice Bardy
1   Discipline of Audiology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
3   School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
4   Eisdell Moore Centre for Hearing and Balance Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Abstract

The continuous advancements in technologies supporting digital health and digital therapeutics (DTx) bring new possibilities to the field of audiology. This study considers a new DTx for tinnitus called Tinnibot and the willingness of a group of Australian university audiology students to consider this new DTx in their future careers as practicing audiologists. A single-group case-series design (pretest/posttest) was used to examine the opinions of 10 university audiology students before and after participating in a 2-hour information workshop on the topics of tinnitus, DTx, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a new digital therapy tool for tinnitus called Tinnibot. Student knowledge levels of the main topic areas increased from poor (before the workshop) to moderate to high after the workshop, with 40% of participants reporting they would very likely use digital therapies for future patients. A common barrier to improving this rating was the need for direct hands-on training on the DTx before the students would be confident to recommend the DTx to patients. Incorporating direct training on DTx into university audiology programs would allow greater uptake of DTx by students as they begin their careers as practicing audiologists.

Keywords

digital therapeutics - tinnitus - educational workshop

ETHICS

Ethical approval for this research was granted under The University of Queensland's (UQ) Health and Behavioral Sciences Low and Negligible Risk Subcommittee (HABS LNR: 28 June 2021).




Publication History

Article published online:
06 June 2023

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