Workers who received the tailored intervention
reported significant posttest increases in their use of hearing
protection. Differences were not significant in the nontailored
predictor-based or control groups. The pre- to
posttest changes also significantly differed by training type;
in posthoc comparisons the tailored group significantly differed
from the nontailored predictor-based group, but not
the control group. Because the tailored and nontailored
interventions had similar content (differing by content presented
in the tailored version which was specific to the
individual’s reported use of HPDs and responses to the survey)
it is reasonable to conclude that tailoring made this
intervention more effective than the nontailored intervention.
The findings regarding the comparisons between tailored,
nontailored, and control are not inconsistent with
the literature. A meta-analysis of 20 studies testing the efficacy
of tailored interventions conducted by Ryan & Lauver
(2002) assessed both process and outcomes. While they
found that participants showed a positive perception of
tailored interventions and remembered and discussed the
content more than that of standard interventions, in terms
of outcomes, tailored interventions were more effective in
promoting health behavior than standard interventions in
50% of the studies.
This study provided a rigorous test of newly developed
interventions with a control intervention that was a highly
rated, commercially produced program that may have been
more entertaining. That the taillored intervention was not
significantly more effective than the control intervention
was disappointing. However, it should be noted that the
control intervention did result in a smaller increase in HPD
use than the tailored intervention and that the tailored
intervention was more effective than the nontailored.
When the results were analyzed for only those workers
who did not report use at all times prior to and following
the intervention, the results were essentially the same. The
tailored intervention was the only one resulting in significantly
increased use of hearing protection and in posthoc
comparisons the changes in the tailored group significantly
differed only from the nontailored predictor-based intervention
group. Procedures were used to assure that there
was no induced regression artifact. The fact that effect size
remained essentially identical for the two samples suggests
that the procedures were successful.
Prior to this project, workers had received information
regarding hearing protection through short annual “toolbox
talks.” In this project, all three programs were delivered
via computer (a novel experience for workers at that
time). While there are many advantages to presenting the
training via computer (e.g., continuous availability, accessible
to workers on all shifts), it is important to note that
the computer made it possible to tailor the intervention to
the individual, and it was this tailored intervention that
had the greatest effect. Only in the tailored version did the
computer recognize individual responses and provide
information specific to them. When workers are allowed
some choice in the information provided, with information
specific to each worker’s reported behavior, attitudes, and
beliefs, it is logical and consistent with educational principles
that this type of program would be more effective
(Caffarella, 1994; Merriam, 1993). Further research is
needed to maximize the effects of individually tailored
interventions in this setting.
Based on previous research results and anecdotal information,
it is difficult to change worker behavior in regard
to use of personal protective equipment. The annual training
provided by the plant had not resulted in constant use
of HPDs. Although statistically significant, the increase
seen in this study was small progress toward achieving
total use of HPDs. However, the fact that a 30-minute
intervention delivered 6 to 18 months prior had an effect
on this difficult-to-influence behavior is significant.
The number of workers exposed to noise, the importance
of preserving hearing ability, and the impact of hearing
loss on personal and work lives justifies the effort to
develop useful interventions. To provide the best protection
for workers, it is essential that the most effective
interventions be used to promote use of HPDs to protect
hearing.
Workers who received the tailored interventionreported significant posttest increases in their use of hearingprotection. Differences were not significant in the nontailoredpredictor-based or control groups. The pre- toposttest changes also significantly differed by training type;in posthoc comparisons the tailored group significantly differedfrom the nontailored predictor-based group, but notthe control group. Because the tailored and nontailoredinterventions had similar content (differing by content presentedin the tailored version which was specific to theindividual’s reported use of HPDs and responses to the survey)it is reasonable to conclude that tailoring made thisintervention more effective than the nontailored intervention.The findings regarding the comparisons between tailored,nontailored, and control are not inconsistent withthe literature. A meta-analysis of 20 studies testing the efficacyof tailored interventions conducted by Ryan & Lauver(2002) assessed both process and outcomes. While theyfound that participants showed a positive perception oftailored interventions and remembered and discussed thecontent more than that of standard interventions, in termsof outcomes, tailored interventions were more effective inpromoting health behavior than standard interventions in50% of the studies.This study provided a rigorous test of newly developedinterventions with a control intervention that was a highlyrated, commercially produced program that may have beenmore entertaining. That the taillored intervention was notsignificantly more effective than the control interventionwas disappointing. However, it should be noted that thecontrol intervention did result in a smaller increase in HPDuse than the tailored intervention and that the tailoredintervention was more effective than the nontailored.When the results were analyzed for only those workerswho did not report use at all times prior to and followingthe intervention, the results were essentially the same. Thetailored intervention was the only one resulting in significantlyincreased use of hearing protection and in posthoccomparisons the changes in the tailored group significantlydiffered only from the nontailored predictor-based interventiongroup. Procedures were used to assure that therewas no induced regression artifact. The fact that effect sizeremained essentially identical for the two samples suggeststhat the procedures were successful.Prior to this project, workers had received informationregarding hearing protection through short annual “toolboxtalks.” In this project, all three programs were deliveredvia computer (a novel experience for workers at thattime). While there are many advantages to presenting thetraining via computer (e.g., continuous availability, accessibleto workers on all shifts), it is important to note thatthe computer made it possible to tailor the intervention tothe individual, and it was this tailored intervention thathad the greatest effect. Only in the tailored version did thecomputer recognize individual responses and provideinformation specific to them. When workers are allowedsome choice in the information provided, with informationspecific to each worker’s reported behavior, attitudes, andbeliefs, it is logical and consistent with educational principlesthat this type of program would be more effective(Caffarella, 1994; Merriam, 1993). Further research isneeded to maximize the effects of individually tailoredinterventions in this setting.Based on previous research results and anecdotal information,it is difficult to change worker behavior in regardto use of personal protective equipment. The annual trainingprovided by the plant had not resulted in constant useof HPDs. Although statistically significant, the increaseseen in this study was small progress toward achievingtotal use of HPDs. However, the fact that a 30-minuteintervention delivered 6 to 18 months prior had an effecton this difficult-to-influence behavior is significant.The number of workers exposed to noise, the importanceof preserving hearing ability, and the impact of hearingloss on personal and work lives justifies the effort todevelop useful interventions. To provide the best protectionfor workers, it is essential that the most effectiveinterventions be used to promote use of HPDs to protecthearing.
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