Knowledge Competence and Intentions to Seek Medical Help

Ramos Article Critique

Problem Statement

The study by Ramos (2023) was performed to gain more understanding of the relationship between planned behavior (TPB) and self-determination theory (SDT) in terms of health-seeking behavior among older adults who are dealing with hearing loss. The author frames the problem by stating that in spite of the prevalence of hearing impairment in older adults, many do not seek medical help. The purpose of the study is to examine how TPB and SDT can improve health-seeking behaviors for this target population.

Background/Literature Review

Ramos (2023) gives numerous and ample citations for the discussion on TPB, SDT, and health-seeking behavior among older adults. The review of relevant literature gives the reader enough context to understand the need for the study. There are, for example, several references to studies on the effectiveness of TPB and SDT in predicting health behaviors. This is done to show an existing gap in research related to hearing impairment that Ramos (2023) wants to fill.

Research Question

The research question is never explicitly stated but is inherent in the statement that the study wants to better understand “the association between hearing health-seeking intention, motivation, and actual behavior among the older adult population” (Ramos, 2023, p. 2).

Variables and Hypothesis

The independent variables in the study were knowledge competence, relatedness, attitudes, stigma, and perceived competence and autonomy. The dependent variable is health-seeking behavior. The research hypothesis is “that the constructs of TPB and SDT, such as knowledge competence, relatedness, positive attitudes towards hearing loss, lower stigma levels, and perceived competence and autonomy, maybe significant predictors that influence health-seeking behavior among older adults with hearing impairment” (Ramos, 2023, p. 2).

Design

Ramos (2023) used a prospective correlational design to examine the factors associated with hearing health-seeking behavior, as this design supports identifying relationships.

Sample/Ethics/Setting

A convenience sample of 103 community-dwelling older adults was recruited from churches and senior centers. However, there is no evidence that participants' rights were protected via informed consent or confidentiality measures. Ramos (2023) does note that Institutional Review Board approval was sought, though.

Procedure

Ramos (2023) recruited participants, conducted initial hearing screenings, administered questionnaires, and conducted follow-up interviews eight weeks later to gain data about whether participants sought medical help for their hearing loss. Data was collected via reliable instruments: Attitudes toward Loss of Hearing Questionnaire, Hearing Attitudes Rehabilitation Questionnaire, and Perceived Competence Scale, which showed acceptable internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.61 to 0.92 (Ramos, 2023, p. 2-3).

Analysis

Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations, and regression analyses, suitable for exploring relationships between variables and making predictions. The use of multiple regression analyses contributed to the goal to better understand TPB and SDT constructs as they related to the subjects’ intention to seek medical help for their hearing.

Results

Ramos (2023) found that the more an older adult possessed knowledge competence, relatedness, positive attitudes, and perceived competence and autonomy the more likely he was to seek medical help for hearing loss. The reported results show internal validity, since they are supported by the theoretical framework and what prior research has shown.