Does person-centred care improve outcomes for musicians fitted with hearing protectors?

Objective: To reduce the risk of hearing injury, musicians are often recommended custom-made musicians’ hearing protectors (MHP). Studies report benefits of use however, many still report challenges leading to relatively low uptake and inconsistent usage. Person-centred approaches to health have been shown to improve patient outcomes, and these principles may be translatable to musicians’ hearing care. The aim was to investigate if use of, and satisfaction with, MHP is influenced by the treatment delivered to musicians by audiologists. Design: Participants were randomly allocated to one of four conditions that varied in extent of person-centred care. Study sample: Forty-two musicians with an interest in purchasing MHP were recruited. Results: Satisfaction with MHP was high overall and users reported a reduction in incidence of tinnitus. Participants reported few issues related to sound quality.