Pharmacist competencies for over-the-counter hearing aids: A Delphi study

Abstract

BackgroundThe 2017 Food and Drug Administration Reauthorization Act established a new category of hearing aids to be available over the counter to increase accessibility and affordability of hearing aid devices. To prepare for increased consumer demand, pharmacists must be ready to meet the needs of the millions of adults eligible to seek over-the-counter hearing aids at the community pharmacy. To date, no organization has proposed competency statements to describe a pharmacist with the knowledge, skills, and abilities aligning with safe and effective use of over-the-counter hearing aids to be sold at community pharmacies. ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to establish competencies needed for pharmacists to safely and effectively assist patients seeking over-the-counter hearing aids at the community pharmacy. MethodsThe Delphi technique was selected to achieve group consensus for competency statements. The project began with a kickoff meeting in July 2019 and continued with a brainstorming round followed by 3 rounds of surveys ending in March 2020. Each survey presented competency statements for panelists to review, rate their agreement, and offer revisions. Statements that reached consensus to accept (≥80% agreement) were advanced to the final list. Statements that did not reach consensus were advanced to subsequent survey rounds. ResultsA total of 14 individuals representing pharmacy, audiology, hearing aid manufacturers, and persons with hearing loss participated. In total, 26 competency statements were accepted by consensus, 2 statements were rejected by consensus, and 11 statements did not reach consensus. All 26 accepted statements were mapped to the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process before final approval by the stakeholder panel. ConclusionPharmacists will likely play new interprofessional roles in the delivery of hearing health care as over-the-counter hearing aids come to market. With professional competency statements, pharmacists will have a framework for the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to safely assist patients seeking over-the-counter hearing aids at the community pharmacy.