Construction workers are at risk for hearing loss, the most common occupational disease in the United States (NIOSH, 1996). We evaluated the responses of over 600 construction workers to a computer-based tailored hearing health training program designed to prevent occupational hearing loss in construction workers. We asked nine "yes or no" and three open-ended questions upon their completion of the program which included consent (5 minutes), survey (15 minutes) and training (40 minutes). Participants received either training tailored to their responses to the survey or a non-tailored, control version of the same training, as randomly selected by the program. For visual interest and entertainment value, the program was designed as a video game with the entire survey and training framed in an espionage story-line.
Over 90% of participants agreed that they learned from and understood the program and the computers were easy to use. Around 80% felt the program held their interest and was fun and that the language was not complicated.The open-ended questions yielded three primary issue areas: program content, format and ease of use. Each issue contained several themes such as "informative" or "too long." These data provided the basis for revision to the program; we are currently examining the results of a similar survey after re-administering the training to the same group. The participants’ overall beliefs that they learned from the program, could use it easily and enjoyed it suggest that interactive computer programs are an acceptable means of disseminating prevention information to construction workers.
Learning Objectives: Participants will: 1. Describe an innovative computer-based prevention education program. 2. Value simple tools such as a feedback survey in revising educational content for a specific audience
Keywords: Communication Technology, Computer-Assisted
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: This work is supported by NIOSH Grant RO1 #513049, awarded to the first author.