This study assessed attitudes toward the use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) and the effect of an educational intervention on fit-testing results by comparing personal attenuation ratings (PAR50) before and after the intervention. Employees (n = 327) from a large metal container manufacturer at four geographic locations were tested with a field attenuation estimation system (FAES) to identify workers (n = 91) requiring intervention. PAR50 values significantly increased from baseline to post-intervention (p < .001, 15.1 to 26.9) and at the 6-month follow-up (p < .001, 95% confidence interval = -11.2, -6.3). Perceived self-efficacy scores for using HPDs significantly declined from baseline to post-intervention (p = .006, 95% confidence interval = 0.3, 1.9), but were not significantly related to PAR50. Therefore, a FAES can assist the occupational health nurse to identify workers at high risk (low PAR50), teach proper fit and use of HPDs, and improve hearing protector selection.

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Occupational health nursing research contributes to the scientific knowledge base, shapes practice guidelines, lends credibility to the profession, and ultimately benefits worker health and work settings. This descriptive study reviewed occupational health nursing research published from January 1990 through December 1999 in the AAOHN Journal. A single investigator reviewed all articles published during the 10 year period to determine if they qualified for inclusion by applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. During the 10 year period, a total of 577 articles were published in the AAOHN Journal (the official journal of the American Association for Occupational Health Nurses) with 146 (25.3%) considered to be reports of research. Cumulatively, 261 RNs were authors of the research articles. Of the 146 research articles, 88% addressed the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) priorities, 60% addressed the 1989 AAOHN priorities, and 65% addressed the 2000 AAOHN priorities. Occupational health nursing research is performed primarily by graduate and postgraduate level nurses working either alone or with nurse co-investigators. The occupational health nursing research articles addressed NORA priorities often. How

As field attenuation estimation systems (FAESs) have become more prevalent, there has been a call from industry to quantify the value of including them into hearing conservation programs. This presentation describes a study that assessed attitudes toward the use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) and the effect of an educational intervention based on results of fit testing by comparing the personal attenuation rating (PAR50) before and after intervention. Employees (n = 327) from a large metal container manufacturer at four geographic locations were tested with a FAES to identify workers (n = 91) needing the intervention. PAR50 values significantly increased from baseline to post-intervention (p &lt; 0.001, 15.1 to 26.9) and at six-month follow-up (p &lt; 0.001, 95% CI = −11.2, −6.3). However, perceived self-efficacy (SE) scores in using HPDs significantly declined from baseline to post-intervention (p = 0.006, 95% CI = 0.3, 1.9) but were not significantly related to PAR50. Therefore, a FAES can assist the health and safety professional to identify workers who are at high risk (low PAR50), teach the proper fit and use of HPDs, and enhance hearing protector selection.