Determinants of continuance intention to use hearing aid among older adults in Tehran (Iran)

Abstract Background & Aim: Continuous use of hearing aid is an effective way of managing hearing impairment consequences in older adults. The present study seeks to evaluate the factor determining the continuance intention to use hearing aids in older adults. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was carried out in 2021. Technology Post-Acceptance Model (PAM) theoretical framework was used to develop a model for continuance intention to use hearing aids. A total of 300 hearing aid users aged 60 or above in Tehran selected through the randomized stratified method completed the self-assessment questionnaires used in the study. The model was tested using the SEM method (path analysis using the maximum likelihood estimate technique) in AMOS V.24 software. Results: The participants had a mean age of 71.38 (SD=8). 50.7% of the participants were female and 49.3% were male. The mean overall continuance intention to use hearing aids was calculated to be 10.14(2.91), and 63.3% of the participants were revealed to have success in the actual use of their hearing aids. Path analysis results indicated that continuance intention to use hearing aids was positively and significantly influenced by the main variables of the study including actual use of hearing aids, self-perceived benefit, satisfaction, confirmation, self-efficacy in using hearing aids, extroversion personality trait, self-reported hearing handicap, and perceived social support. Moreover, regression analysis revealed that the independent variables explained 60% of the variation in continuance intention to use hearing aids and 69% of actual use of hearing aids. The values of fitness indices were CMIN = 2.52, RMSEA = 0.07, IFI = 0.92 and CFI = 0.92, which suggests that the model proposed in the present study is a good fit. Conclusion: The main results of the present study help hearing care providers develop a better understanding of older users to design effective interventions and strategies and make sure of the patients' continuance intention to use hearing aids.