RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT05513833

School Screening and Telemedicine Specialty Referral to Address Childhood Hearing Loss in Rural Kentucky

Appalachian Specialty Telemedicine Access for Referrals (STAR) Trial

Sponsor

University of Arkansas

Enrollment

18,000 participants

Start Date

Sep 1, 2022

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Hearing Loss

Summary

This trial will evaluate a multilevel intervention (STAR model) that combines mobile health (mHealth) hearing screening tools with telemedicine technology for specialty care access in rural Kentucky schools. An initial version of the model was used in rural Alaska where telemedicine-based specialty referral improved both proportion of children receiving follow-up and time to follow-up. The refined STAR model will utilize an enhanced mHealth screening protocol that includes tympanometry for the detection of middle ear disease. The STAR model will also include a specialty telemedicine referral process in schools for children who refer school screening.

Eligibility

Min Age: 3 YearsMax Age: 11 Years

Inclusion Criteria3

Enrolled in school in one of the 14 participating counties
Initial entry into elementary school
Eligible regardless of age, gender, race, or ethnicity

Exclusion Criteria1

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Interventions

OTHERStandard School Screening and Referral

Counties in the control condition will use standard hearing screening and standard referral by school district. Standard referral is typically a letter home from the school to parents/caregivers of children who refer screening.

OTHEREnhanced mHealth Screening

The enhanced screening protocol will consist of an mHealth-based hearing screen combined with tympanometry.

OTHERSpecialty Telemedicine Referral

The specialty telemedicine referral will include a lay-friendly smartphone or tablet that connects to tools necessary for an ear and hearing evaluation. If a child requires referral from hearing screening, a school nurse/teacher will complete the established protocol for the specialty telemedicine referral and send details asynchronously to an audiologist for consultation.