Improving access to hearing aids through pharmacy training in rural areas
Official title: Increasing Access to Hearing Healthcare: An Assessment of Pharmacy Technician Educational Training for the Provision of Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids in Rural Alabama and Mississippi Pharmacies
Funded at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa · NIH-10949984 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how teaching pharmacy workers to help people get over-the-counter hearing aids can make it easier for folks in rural Alabama and Mississippi to access hearing care, especially since there aren't many audiology services available nearby.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tuscaloosa, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $405,556 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DC022070-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10949984 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older living in rural Alabama and Mississippi who experience mild to moderate hearing loss.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who live in urban areas or those with severe hearing loss requiring specialized audiological care may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how training pharmacy technicians can help provide over-the-counter hearing aids to individuals in rural Alabama and Mississippi. It aims to address the significant barriers to hearing healthcare access in these regions, where traditional audiology services are limited. By educating pharmacy staff on the use and provision of these devices, the project seeks to create a sustainable model for hearing healthcare that is both accessible and affordable for local communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve access to hearing aids for individuals in rural areas, enhancing their quality of life and emotional well-being.
How similar studies have gone: Similar initiatives have shown promise in improving access to healthcare services in underserved areas, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hay-Mccutcheon, Marcia Jean — University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
- Study coordinator: Hay-Mccutcheon, Marcia Jean
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.