Disseminating evidence-based hearing loss prevention interventions through the electronic health record

Introduction
Noise-induced hearing loss is predictable and preventable. Effective, evidence-based interventions exist, but have not been widely disseminated. Electronic health records and standardized terminologies present new opportunities to translate and disseminate evidence-based interventions in routine health care encounters. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an evidence-based protocol for preventing noise-induced hearing loss, to be disseminated in the electronic health record.

Methods
A noise-induced hearing loss prevention intervention was selected based on the literature. A team of clinical and scholarly experts translated the intervention using a standardized terminology, the Omaha System. The proposed translation will be further validated in a pilot test and evaluated according to the following criteria: a) correct use of an interface terminology, b) the level of granularity needed for intervention descriptions, c) the accuracy of the intervention descriptions, d) the completeness of the intervention descriptions, and e) the amount of education or training necessary for fidelity to the original intervention content and intent.

Results
A final evidence-based hearing loss prevention protocol for dissemination will be available on-line for use by any health care clinicians.

Discussion
The Omaha System provides necessary terms for describing the evidence-based intervention. Use of the protocol will provide clinical decision support for delivering quality noise-induced hearing loss prevention during routine health care encounters and generate standardized data that can be used to evaluate care quality and outcomes.