A Survey of Audiologists and Continuing Education

ABSTRACT

National certification and state licensure boards' requirements, personal needs for professional growth, and an expanding scope of practice all necessitate mandatory continuing education (CE) for audiologists. This Internet study surveyed audiologists about their knowledge of, attitudes toward, and practices and preferences for CE. An e-mail invitation to complete an on-line survey was sent to 7,803 nonstudent members of the American Academy of Audiology. A total of 1237 audiologists completed the questionnaire via Survey Monkey (16% response rate). Most audiologists had adequate knowledge about and expressed positive attitudes toward CE; however, nearly half could benefit from a demystification of the CE process. For example, about half of the respondents said the CE process (e.g., rationale, CE Registry, requirements for certification/licensure) was confusing to them. Cost, location, and lack of employer support were the most frequent reasons given for not attending AudiologyNOW! Despite technological advances in CE delivery, most audiologists prefer face-to-face CE events, but would be willing to spend $50.00 for a relevant 2-hour virtual seminar. Audiologists could benefit from demystification of the CE process, employer support, and an increase in the number and variety of offerings.

KEYWORDS

Audiology - continuing education - survey

REFERENCES

• 1 Van Vliet D, Berkey D, Marion M, Robinson M. Professional education in audiology: survey of California audiologists.  ASHA. 1992;  34 50-53
• 2 Raggio M. California audiologists and the Au.D.: a survey of current opinion.  Am J Audiol. 1996;  5 15-24
• 3 American Academy of Audiology . Opinion survey on the Doctor of Audiology.  Audiol Express. 1998;  4 1-6
• 4 Helfer K S. Continuing education in audiology: what do we want?.  Am J Audiol. 1999;  8 6-12
• 5 Alabama Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology .http://2005: Available at: www.abespa.org Accessed December 31, 2006
• 6 International Association for Continuing Education and Training .http://2005: Available at: www.iacet.org Accessed December 31, 2006
• 7 Metz M. Continuing education: what were they thinking?.  Audiol Today. 2005;  17(6) 25
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• 9 Palmer C, Glattke T. Efficacy of mandatory continuing education.  Semin Hear. 2007;  28 46-54

APPENDIX A: Internet Survey on Continuing Education and Results

Question	Response	No.	%
Section I: Audiologists' Demographic Information
(1) How long have you been a practicing audiologist?
	0-5 years	163	13.2
	6-10 years	191	15.5
	11-15 years	209	16.9
	Over 16 years	673	54.4
	Total	1236	100.0
(2) What is (are) your highest degree(s) earned?
	Master's	693	56.2
	Au.D.	377	30.6
	Ph.D.	158	12.8
	Other	21	1.0
	Business	2	0.10
	Education Doctorate	3	0.14
	Au.D. in progress	4	0.19
	Doctorate	2	0.10
	Other	10	0.48
	Total	1233	100.0
(3) Are you currently enrolled in an Au.D. and/or Ph.D. program?
	Au.D	193	15.9
	Ph.D.	14	1.2
	Au.D. and Ph.D.	0	0
	Not enrolled	1006	82.9
	Total	1213	100.0
(4) If you answered “yes” to question 3, please tell us if you are enrolled in a distance-learning program?
	Yes	189	64.9
	No	102	35.1
	Total	291	100.0
(5) What is your primary work setting?
	Clinic/hospital	299	24.2
	VA/Military/Government	82	6.6
	Medical School, University	121	9.8
	ENT Office	216	17.5
	Manufacturer	57	4.6
	Private Practice	303	24.5
	Retired	12	1.0
	Other	145	11.7
	Education	75	6.1
	Private Industry	25	2.0
	Sabbatical	14	1.1
	Speech & Hearing Clinic	14	1.1
	Other	17	1.4
	Total	1235	100.0
(6) Are you currently a member of the Academy's CE Registry?
	Yes	866	70.3
	No	365	29.7
	Total	1231	100.0
(7) If you answered “No” to question 6, please indicate why not?
	Cost	53	15.5
	Unaware of Registry	10	2.9
	Track Self	66	19.2
	Other Registry	107	31.2
	Not Necessary	28	8.2
	Other	77	22.4
	Total	341	100.0
(8) Does your employer pay all or part of your CE expenses each year?
	Yes	776	64.1
	All of it	300	24.8
	Part of it	476	39.3
	None of it	258	21.3
	Self-employed	176	14.5
	N/A	(25)
	Total	1233	100.0
Section II: Audiologists' Knowledge About Continuing Education
Question	Response	No.	%
(9) Continuing Education (CE) hours are required for membership in the Academy of Audiology (AAA)?
	True	333	27.5
	False	879	72.5
	Total	1212	100.0
(10) All state licensure boards for Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing have the same CE requirements?
	True	35	2.9
	False	1180	97.1
	Total	1215	100.0
(11) Each AAA approved CE activity has gone through an application, review, and approval process.
	True	1175	96.9
	False	37	3.1
	Total	1212	100.0
(12) Audiologists can earn CEUs by reading certain articles from the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology and submitting completed examinations provided they are members of the Journal Self-Study Program and the AAA CE Registry.
	True	1118	92.6
	False	7.4	89
	Total	1207	100.0
(13) The AAA Code of Ethics specifically states: “Individuals shall maintain professional competence, including participation in continuing education.”
	True	1157	96.0
	False	48	4.0
	Total	1205	100.0
(14) I know the CE requirements for licensure as an audiologist in my state.
	True	1041	86.2
	False	167	13.8
	Total	1208	100.0
(15) If you answered “true” to question 15, please indicate your state's CE requirements for licensure. (e.g., 20 hours in 2 years)
	5-15 hours per year	192	20.3
	20-25 hours per 2 years	369	39.1
	28-39 hours per 2 years	178	18.9
	30-36 hours per 3 years	111	11.8
	None	94	10.0
	N/A	(82)
	Total	1026	100.0
Section III: Audiologists' Attitudes Toward Continuing Education
Question	Response	No.	%
(16) Audiologists should be required to complete Continuing Education Units each year in order to maintain their state licensure in Audiology.
	Agree	1148	93.2
	Strongly	849	68.9
	Moderately	299	24.3
	Neutral	45	3.7
	Disagree	39	3.2
	Moderately	21	1.7
	Strongly	18	1.5
	Total	1232	100.0
(17) CE is necessary for audiologists to keep up-to-date with “cutting edge” practice.
	Agree	1161	95.9
	Strongly	817	67.5
	Moderately	344	28.4
	Neutral	31	2.6
	Disagree	18	1.5
	Moderately	11	0.9
	Strongly	7	0.6
	Total	1210	100.0
(18) Technologies associated with virtual seminars (i.e., online) are intimidating to me.
	Agree	202	16.8
	Strongly	26	2.2
	Moderately	176	14.6
	Neutral	224	18.5
	Disagree	783	64.8
	Moderately	297	24.6
	Strongly	486	40.2
	Total	1209	100.0
(19) The CE activities that I have participated in within the past three years have had a significant impact on how I practice audiology.
	Agree	954	79.0
	Strongly	326	27.0
	Moderately	628	52.0
	Neutral	179	14.8
	Disagree	75	6.2
	Moderately	64	5.3
	Strongly	11	0.9
	Total	1208	100.0
(20) I tend to select CE activities based on their availability/cost rather than what content area would be most beneficial for my current professional needs.
	Agree	343	28.5
	Strongly	73	6.1
	Moderately	270	22.4
	Neutral	205	17.0
	Disagree	658	54.6
	Moderately	410	34.0
	Strongly	248	20.6
	Total	1206	100.0
(21) The CE process (e.g., rationale, AAA CE Registry, requirements for certification/licensure) is confusing to me.
	Agree	216	17.9
	Strongly	28	2.3
	Moderately	188	15.6
	Neutral	296	24.5
	Disagree	695	57.6
	Moderately	391	32.4
	Strongly	304	25.2
	Total	1207	100.0
(22) My state licensure board is too restrictive on what content areas it will accept for CE.
	Agree	103	9.8
	Strongly	18	1.7
	Moderately	85	8.1
	Neutral	330	31.6
	Disagree	612	58.6
	Moderately	317	30.3
	Strongly	295	28.2
	N/A	(160)
	Total	1045	100.0
(23) Too few CE opportunities are available in the areas needed for my professional development.
	Agree	325	27.0
	Strongly	76	6.3
	Moderately	249	20.7
	Neutral	282	23.4
	Disagree	596	49.6
	Moderately	375	31.2
	Strongly	221	18.4
	Total	1203	100.0
(24) Too few CE opportunities are available for my state licensure requirements (e.g., audiology and/or hearing aid dispensing).
	Agree	203	17.0
	Strongly	45	3.8
	Moderately	158	13.2
	Neutral	292	24.4
	Disagree	703	58.7
	Moderately	374	31.2
	Strongly	329	27.5
	Total	1198	100.0
Section IV: Audiologists' Practices and Preferences for Continuing Education
Question	Response	No.	%
(25) Through which format have you obtained the most CEUs during the past 2 years?
	Professional Meetings	753	63.0
	(AAA, ASHA, etc.)
	Manufacturer Training Courses	297	24.9
	On-line Courses (Audiology Online)	45	3.8
	JAAA/other self-study programs	16	1.3
	Other	84	7.0
	Doctoral Coursework	45	3.6
	Other	41	3.4
	Total	1195	100.0
(26) Please click on each of the last five AAA Annual Convention & Expos you have attended.
	Washington, DC (2005)	460	54.6
	Salt Lake City, UT (2004)	349	41.4
	San Antonio, TX (2003)	387	46.0
	Philadelphia, PA (2002)	398	47.3
	San Diego, CA (2001)	407	48.3
	Total	842	100.0
(27) What are the reasons why you do not or would not attend the AAA Annual Convention & Expo? (Please click all that apply)
	Cost	732	64.1
	Time of year	229	20.1
	Location	534	46.8
	Program content	178	15.6
	Lack of employer support	344	30.1
	No necessity	6	0.5
	Get CEs elsewhere	224	19.6
	Family obligations keep me from traveling	274	24.0
	Cannot take time from my job/practice	230	20.1
	They are not worth the time and cost	68	6.0
	Other	196	17.2
	Content	28	2.5
	Attend other meetings	18	1.5
	Timing	12	1.1
	Other	60	5.2
	Personal	27	2.3
	Expense	10	0.9
	Work Schedule	43	3.7
	Total	1142	100.0
(28) What is your preferred venue for obtaining your CE?
	Professional Meetings (AAA, ASHA, etc.)	871	71.9
	Manufacturer Training Courses	128	10.6
	On-line Courses (Audiology Online)	82	6.8
	JAAA/other self-study programs	28	2.3
	Rather not obtain them at all	20	1.7
	Other	82	6.8
	Workshops/Seminars	30	2.4
	Manufacturer	5	0.4
	Local	7	0.6
	Coursework	7	0.6
	Online	13	1.1
	Other	20	1.7
	Total	1211	100.0
(29) Considering registration only, I would be willing to spend ______ dollars for a 2-hour virtual seminar (i.e., on-line) on a key topic for my professional development as an audiologist.
	$0	227	19.3
	$50	744	63.2
	$100	179	15.2
	$150	20	1.7
	$200	7	0.6
	Total	1177	100.0
(30) What content area should be considered “highest priority” for providers of CE?
	Aging/Geriatrics	61	5.1
	Amplification	316	26.6
	Auditory Processing Disorders	29	2.4
	Cochlear Implants	26	2.2
	Diagnostics	170	14.3
	Hearing Conservation	7	0.6
	Hearing Science	37	3.1
	Newborn Hearing Screening	12	1.0
	Pediatrics	89	7.5
	Practice Management	44	3.7
	Professional Issues (Ethics)	39	3.3
	Rehabilitation	51	4.3
	Reimbursement/Coding	48	4.0
	Tinnitus/Hyperacusis	7	0.6
	Vestibular	49	4.1
	Assessment/Management
	Other	203	17.1
	Diagnostics	12	1.0
	Many or all of the above	100	8.4
	Au.D. profession	11	0.9
	Depends on profession	53	4.5
	Other	6	0.5
	Can't answer	21	1.8
	Total	1188	100.0