Summary of Best Evidence on the Management of Hearing Loss in Older Adults in Primary Health Care Settings postprint

Abstract: Background　Primary healthcare institutions play a crucial role in the management of hearing loss in the elderly. However，the available evidence is extensive and fragmented，and there is currently no scientific or standardized clinical practice guideline. Objective　To comprehensively review and analyze the best evidence on the management of hearing loss in community-dwelling older adults within primary health care settings，providing a reference for clinical practice and guideline development. Methods　Systematic searches were conducted in BMJ Best Practice，UpToDate，International Guideline Collaboration，Medlive.cn，National Institute for Health and Care Excellence，World Health Organization，National Guideline Clearinghouse，Canadian Medical Practice Guidelines Network，Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network，Ontario Nurses Association，Joanna Briggs Institute（JBI）Collaboration Centre Library，Cochrane Library，PubMed，Web of Science， CINAHL，CNKI，Wanfang Data，and China Biomedical Literature Database. The search covered all evidence related to the management of hearing loss in older adults，including clinical decisions，guidelines，systematic reviews，and expert consensus，published between January 2014 and September 2024. The best available evidence was summarized according to the JBI Evidence-Based Healthcare Center's grading system（2016 version）. Results　A total of 14 documents were included，consisting of 2 clinical decisions，5 guidelines，5 systematic reviews，and 2 expert consensus reports. 35 pieces of best evidence were identified，covering 8 key areas：clinical characteristics of hearing loss，screening，assessment，referral，support for hearing assistive devices，hearing rehabilitation training，social support and health education. Conclusion　The best evidence for managing hearing loss in elderly individuals developed in this study provides evidence-based support for primary healthcare professionals，helping them manage elderly patients' hearing loss in a standardized and scientific manner，thereby improving their hearing health and overall well-being.