Providing information on mental well-being during audiological consultations: exploring barriers and facilitators using the COM-B model.

Objective: To identify the barriers and facilitators of hearing healthcare clinicians (HHC) providing information to audiology consumers on (i) the mental health impacts of hearing loss, and (ii) management options for improving mental well-being.
Design: A qualitative study using semi-structured individual and group interviews. Both the interview guide and the deductive process of data analysis were based on the COM-B model (Capabilities, Opportunities and Motivations required for Behaviour change).
Study Sample: Fifteen HHCs with between 2 and 25 years of clinical experience (mean 9.3).
Results: Psychological Capability barriers included lack of knowledge relating to mental health signs and symptoms, management options available, referral processes, and resources/tools to assist discussion of options. Social opportunity barriers included clients' lack of openness to receive mental health-related information from their HHC. Automatic motivation factors included feeling uncomfortable and helpless when discussing mental health. Reflective motivation factors included clinician's limiting beliefs concerning their role and responsibilities regarding provision of mental health support, and doubts about whether mental health services are truly beneficial for clients with hearing loss.
Conclusion: Application of the COM-B model for behaviour change identified factors that need to be addressed to increase the provision of mental health information in the audiology setting.