Correlation between Exposure to Smoking and Losing the Sense of Hearing - Research Proposal Example

Correlation between Exposure to Smoking and Losing the Sense of Hearing Proposed Research Title ‘Correlation between Exposure to Smoking and Losing the Sense of Hearing’ Purpose The main purpose of the proposed research study is to determine whether or not there is a strong relationship between exposure to cigarette smoking and losing the sense of hearing. The proposed research findings will be used to develop nursing education programs when discouraging the general public from smoking cigarettes. Problem Statement What is the impact of smoking over the smokers’, past smokers’, passive non-smokers, and non-smokers’ sense of hearing? Significance of the Problem Losing the sense of hearing is a serious health problem which could result to emotional disturbances and loss of self-confidence. (Noble, 2008) Since the loss of hearing could significantly affect the mental health of a person (Kvam & Loeb, 2007; Tambs, 2004), young and middle-aged individuals who are experiencing difficulty in hearing could end up withdrawing themselves from social affairs or even increase the risk of losing their job (Kvam & Loeb, 2007). Smoking cigarettes is highly associated with the high incidence of lung cancer. However, not all people are aware that clinical studies suggest that there is a strong connection between smoking and hearing loss. It is important for nurses and other medical professionals to become familiar with the impact of smoking over the smokers’ and non-smokers’ sense of hearing since this information will be useful in educating the public on how they could effectively protect themselves from losing the sense of hearing. Theoretical / Conceptual Framework Florence Nightingale suggested the importance of maintaining a good relationship between the patient, health care professionals, health care needs of the patients, and the environment. (Miller, 2008, p. 20) Based on the theory of Nightingale, health care professionals should provide a holistic care to patients at all times. The proposed research study will open the mind of the readers with regards to the impact of smoking over one’s sense of hearing. Since the professional nurses are obliged to provide the community with health teaching, nurses should be aware of the impact of smoking over smokers’ sense of hearing. Terms to be Defined Holistic Care – Interconnection between the body-mind-spirit of each individual which could promote a normal physiological functioning. (Miller, 2008, p. 20) Non-smoker – Individuals who never smoke and are not exposed to passive smoke. Passive non-smoker – Individuals who never smoke but are exposed to passive smoke. Past smoker – Individuals who had smoke in the past but has ceased smoking at the time of the research study. Smoker – Individuals who are smoking at the time when the research study was conducted. Hypothesis / Research Question Does direct and indirect exposure to smoking correlate with losing the sense of hearing? Literature Review It is a common knowledge for most medical professionals that losing the sense of hearing is related to old age and exposure to excessively loud noise over a long period of time. (Mizoue, Miyamoto, & Shimizu, 2003) Although the main cause of losing the sense of hearing remains unclear, it is a fact that roughly 30% to 35% of Americans between the ages of 65 to 65 years old suffer from hearing loss (Malmstrom, 2005). In the case of direct and passive smokers, Cruickshanks et al. (1998) explained that exposure to cigarette smoke can significantly affect a person’s sense of hearing due to its “antioxidative mechanisms over the vasculature supplying the auditory system”. In line with the impact of smoking over the sense of hearing, several studies suggest that smokers are more likely to experience hearing problem as compared to individuals who do not smoke cigarettes (Ferrite & Santana, 2005; Mizoue, Miyamoto, & Shimizu, 2003; Cruickshanks et al., 1998). Proposed Research Design and Data Collection Method The researcher will recruit a total of 200 research survey participants who are between the age brackets of 20 to 65 years old. To identify the correlation between smokers’ and passive non-smokers’ risk of experiencing hearing loss, the research participants will be divided equally into four major groups: (1) smokers; (2) non-smokers; (3) passive non-smoker; and (4) past smokers. The first part of the research study will utilize a research survey questionnaire to determine the age, sex, and exposure of each research participant to smoke. For instance: The research questionnaire will be used in determining the number of cigarettes an active smoker smokes each day. The second part of the research study which aims to test the hearing capacity of each research participant will follow the research study approach used by Sharabi et al, (2002) with regards to the relationship between cigarette smoking and hearing loss will be applied in the proposed research study. Upon contracting the professional service of an audiologist, the proposed research study will use a calibrated clinical audiometer between 250 to 8,000 Hz frequencies to test the actual hearing capacity of each research participants. Aside from not informing the contracted audiologist regarding the smoking history of each participant, the hearing test will be performed within a sealed and soundproof room to avoid biased measurement. Eventually, data gathered will be grading according to the severity of the research participants’ hearing impairment specifically to low-tone loss and high-tone loss. For instance: High-tone hearing loss between 25 to 35 dB will be classified as mild impairment; 40 to 60 dB as moderate impairment; and more than 65 dB as severe impairment. (Sharabi et al, 2002) Data Analysis Regardless of age and gender, significant relationship between the research participants’ smoking status and the degree of their individual hearing impairment will be tested using the chi-square and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests. (Sharabi et al, 2002) Cost / Feasibility Analysis The estimated cost analysis for the study is roughly US$ 2,500. (See Table I – Estimated Cost of Research Study below) Table I - Estimated Cost of Research Study Expected Expenses US Dollar ($) Food Allowances (20 days x 50) 1,000 Travel Expenses 250 Printing Expenses 150 Fee for Contracted Audiologist 1,100 Total Estimated Expenses 2,500 Assumptions / Limitations Aside from old age and long-term exposure to excessively loud noise, smoking is highly associated with the loss or decline in the quality of hearing (Ferrite & Santana, 2005; Mizoue, Miyamoto, & Shimizu, 2003; Cruickshanks et al., 1998). The proposed research study is limited in terms of determining the significance of age and gender with regards to the relationship between smoking and hearing loss. *** End *** References: Cruickshanks, K. J., Klein, R., Klein, B. E., Wiley, T. L., Nondahl, D. M., & Tweed, T. S. (1998). Cigarette smoking and hearing loss: The epidemiology of hearing loss study. Journal of American Medical Association , Vol. 279, No. 21, pp. 1715 - 1719. Cruickshanks, K., Klein, R., Klein, B., Wiley, T., Nondahl, D., & Tweed, T. (1998). Cigarette smoking and hearing loss: the epidemiology of hearing loss study. Journal of the American Medical Association , Vol. 279, pp. 1715 - 1719. Ferrite, S., & Santana, V. (2005). Joint effects of smoking, noise exposure and age on hearing loss. Occupational Medicine , Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 48 - 53. Kvam, M. H., & Loeb, M. (2007). Mental health in deaf adults: Symptoms of anxiety and depression among hearing and deaf individuals. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education , Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 1 - 7. Malmstrom, J. (2005). It is a common knowledge for most medical professionals that losing the sense of hearing is related to old age and exposure to excessively loud noise over a long period of time. Geriatric Nursing , Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 57 - 59. Miller, C. A. (2008). Wellness in Older Adults. 5th Ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Mizoue, T., Miyamoto, T., & Shimizu, T. (2003). Combined effect of smoking and occupational exposure to noise on hearing loss in steel factory workers. Occupational and Environmental Medicine , Vol. 60, No. 1, pp. 56 - 59. Noble, W. (2008). Auditory reality and self-assessment of hearing. Trends in Amplification , Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 113 - 120. Sharabi, Y., Reshef-Haran, I., Burstein, M., & Eldad, A. (2002). Cigarette smoking and hearing loss: Lessons frm the young adult periodic examinations in Israel (YAPEIS) database. IMAJ , Vol. 4, pp. 1118 - 1120. Tambs, K. (2004). Moderate effects of hearing loss on mental health and subjective well-being: Results from the Nord-Tondelag hearing loss study. Psychosomatic Medicine , Vo. 66, pp. 776 - 782. Read More