Objective To investigate the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) status and its influencing factors related to the prevention and control of hearing loss among noise-exposed workers in Pudong New Area and to provide a scientific basis for strategies to reduce noise-induced hearing loss.
Methods From April to October 2023, a self-designed questionnaire was used to conduct a KAP survey on the prevention and control of hearing loss among 2 307 noise-exposed workers.
Results A total of 2 206 valid questionnaires were collected, with a valid effective response rate of 95.6%. The overall KAP score for the prevention and control of hearing loss among noise-exposed workers in Pudong New Area was (103.89 ± 12.46) points with an overall item accuracy rate of 80.9%. The scores for the knowledge, attitude, and practice dimensions were (10.82 ± 1.74) points, (58.04 ± 7.20) points, and (35.03 ± 7.10) points, respectively, with accuracy rates of 83.2%, 83.0%, and 74.3%. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that, compared with noise-exposed workers aged < 30 years, KAP scores for hearing loss prevention and control among workers aged 40 to 49 and ≥ 50 years were 3.343 and 4.882 points lower, respectively. Compared to workers with < 5 years of service time, noise-exposed workers with 10 to 14 and ≥ 15 years of service time had lower KAP scores for hearing loss prevention and control, by 1.523 and 2.779 points. Those with a high school/vocational school education/technical secondary school and those with a college degree or above scored 6.453 and 8.122 points higher, respectively, than those with a primary school education and/or below. Workers who worked more than 50 hours per week scored 3.938 points lower than those who worked ≤ 40 hours per week. All of these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).
Conclusions The overall KAP level regarding hearing loss prevention and control among noise-exposed workers in Pudong New Area should be improved. Enterprises should reasonably arrange workers' schedules and focus on workers aged ≥ 40 years, ≥ 10 years of service time, low education levels (primary school or below), and an average weekly working time of > 50 hours. Targeted professional training should be conducted to increase awareness of hearing loss prevention, enhance positive beliefs, and promote the adoption of protective behaviors.
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