This study aimed to expand the health belief model by incorporating dementia knowledge and fear and to assess the effects of these variables on dementia prevention behaviors among older adults. Methods: In total, 199 elderly individuals from 10 senior centers in Korea completed a structured questionnaire assessing characteristics, dementia knowledge, fear, health beliefs, and prevention behaviors. Measures included the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale, the Korean version of the Fear of Alzheimer’s Disease Scale, and the Korean version of the Motivation to Change Lifestyle and Health Behavior for Dementia. Hierarchical polynomial regression was conducted to examine the impact of integrating dementia knowledge and fear into the health belief model. Results: Hierarchical polynomial regression across four models revealed significant effects of various factors on dementia prevention behaviors, explaining 12%–36% of the variance. Perceived barriers significantly decreased dementia prevention behaviors, while higher levels of self-efficacy and cues to action had a positive influence. Additionally, a nonlinear relationship was identified between dementia knowledge and prevention behaviors, with the positive impacts of increased knowledge potentially diminishing beyond a certain point. Conclusion: Our findings underscore the necessity of modifying the health belief model to integrate dementia knowledge and fear, which play critical roles in shaping preventive behaviors among older adults. Future investigations should examine the optimal level of dementia knowledge to promote these behaviors and elucidate the intricate relationship between knowledge and actions.

Background: Tinnitus is a bothersome condition associated with various mechanisms of action. Although treatment methods vary according to these mechanisms, standardized guidelines would benefit both patients and clinicians. We conducted a Delphi study, a method that collects expert opinions through multiple rounds of questionnaires, to reach a consensus on tinnitus treatment with professional experts. Methods: A two-round modified Delphi survey was conducted to develop a clinical consensus on tinnitus treatment. The experts scored each statement on a scale of 1 (highest disagreement) to 9 (highest agreement) for their level of agreement on tinnitus treatment.Consensus was defined when 75% or more of the participants scored 7–9, and 15% or less scored 1–3. To ensure reliability of the responses, the content validity ratio and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance were evaluated. Results: Approximately 19 of 31 statements reached a consensus. All 3 statements reached a consensus regarding the candidates for treatment. Regarding treatment, 3 of 8 statements on medication, 2 of 2 statements on tinnitus retraining therapy/cognitive behavioral therapy, and 5 of 7 statements on auditory rehabilitation reached a positive consensus. Although all 6 statements regarding miscellaneous treatment reached a consensus, most were negatively agreed. For treatment with neuromodulation, none of the 5 statements reached a consensus. Conclusion The experts reached a high level of consensus on treatment candidates, tinnitus retraining therapy/cognitive behavioral therapy, and auditory rehabilitation in this modified Delphi study. The results of this study can provide beneficial and practical information for clinicians regarding the treatment of tinnitus.

This study aimed to expand the health belief model by incorporating dementia knowledge and fear and to assess the effects of these variables on dementia prevention behaviors among older adults. Methods: In total, 199 elderly individuals from 10 senior centers in Korea completed a structured questionnaire assessing characteristics, dementia knowledge, fear, health beliefs, and prevention behaviors. Measures included the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale, the Korean version of the Fear of Alzheimer’s Disease Scale, and the Korean version of the Motivation to Change Lifestyle and Health Behavior for Dementia. Hierarchical polynomial regression was conducted to examine the impact of integrating dementia knowledge and fear into the health belief model. Results: Hierarchical polynomial regression across four models revealed significant effects of various factors on dementia prevention behaviors, explaining 12%–36% of the variance. Perceived barriers significantly decreased dementia prevention behaviors, while higher levels of self-efficacy and cues to action had a positive influence. Additionally, a nonlinear relationship was identified between dementia knowledge and prevention behaviors, with the positive impacts of increased knowledge potentially diminishing beyond a certain point. Conclusion: Our findings underscore the necessity of modifying the health belief model to integrate dementia knowledge and fear, which play critical roles in shaping preventive behaviors among older adults. Future investigations should examine the optimal level of dementia knowledge to promote these behaviors and elucidate the intricate relationship between knowledge and actions.

Background: Tinnitus is a bothersome condition associated with various mechanisms of action. Although treatment methods vary according to these mechanisms, standardized guidelines would benefit both patients and clinicians. We conducted a Delphi study, a method that collects expert opinions through multiple rounds of questionnaires, to reach a consensus on tinnitus treatment with professional experts. Methods: A two-round modified Delphi survey was conducted to develop a clinical consensus on tinnitus treatment. The experts scored each statement on a scale of 1 (highest disagreement) to 9 (highest agreement) for their level of agreement on tinnitus treatment.Consensus was defined when 75% or more of the participants scored 7–9, and 15% or less scored 1–3. To ensure reliability of the responses, the content validity ratio and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance were evaluated. Results: Approximately 19 of 31 statements reached a consensus. All 3 statements reached a consensus regarding the candidates for treatment. Regarding treatment, 3 of 8 statements on medication, 2 of 2 statements on tinnitus retraining therapy/cognitive behavioral therapy, and 5 of 7 statements on auditory rehabilitation reached a positive consensus. Although all 6 statements regarding miscellaneous treatment reached a consensus, most were negatively agreed. For treatment with neuromodulation, none of the 5 statements reached a consensus. Conclusion The experts reached a high level of consensus on treatment candidates, tinnitus retraining therapy/cognitive behavioral therapy, and auditory rehabilitation in this modified Delphi study. The results of this study can provide beneficial and practical information for clinicians regarding the treatment of tinnitus.

This study aimed to expand the health belief model by incorporating dementia knowledge and fear and to assess the effects of these variables on dementia prevention behaviors among older adults. Methods: In total, 199 elderly individuals from 10 senior centers in Korea completed a structured questionnaire assessing characteristics, dementia knowledge, fear, health beliefs, and prevention behaviors. Measures included the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale, the Korean version of the Fear of Alzheimer’s Disease Scale, and the Korean version of the Motivation to Change Lifestyle and Health Behavior for Dementia. Hierarchical polynomial regression was conducted to examine the impact of integrating dementia knowledge and fear into the health belief model. Results: Hierarchical polynomial regression across four models revealed significant effects of various factors on dementia prevention behaviors, explaining 12%–36% of the variance. Perceived barriers significantly decreased dementia prevention behaviors, while higher levels of self-efficacy and cues to action had a positive influence. Additionally, a nonlinear relationship was identified between dementia knowledge and prevention behaviors, with the positive impacts of increased knowledge potentially diminishing beyond a certain point. Conclusion: Our findings underscore the necessity of modifying the health belief model to integrate dementia knowledge and fear, which play critical roles in shaping preventive behaviors among older adults. Future investigations should examine the optimal level of dementia knowledge to promote these behaviors and elucidate the intricate relationship between knowledge and actions.

Background: Tinnitus is a bothersome condition associated with various mechanisms of action. Although treatment methods vary according to these mechanisms, standardized guidelines would benefit both patients and clinicians. We conducted a Delphi study, a method that collects expert opinions through multiple rounds of questionnaires, to reach a consensus on tinnitus treatment with professional experts. Methods: A two-round modified Delphi survey was conducted to develop a clinical consensus on tinnitus treatment. The experts scored each statement on a scale of 1 (highest disagreement) to 9 (highest agreement) for their level of agreement on tinnitus treatment.Consensus was defined when 75% or more of the participants scored 7–9, and 15% or less scored 1–3. To ensure reliability of the responses, the content validity ratio and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance were evaluated. Results: Approximately 19 of 31 statements reached a consensus. All 3 statements reached a consensus regarding the candidates for treatment. Regarding treatment, 3 of 8 statements on medication, 2 of 2 statements on tinnitus retraining therapy/cognitive behavioral therapy, and 5 of 7 statements on auditory rehabilitation reached a positive consensus. Although all 6 statements regarding miscellaneous treatment reached a consensus, most were negatively agreed. For treatment with neuromodulation, none of the 5 statements reached a consensus. Conclusion The experts reached a high level of consensus on treatment candidates, tinnitus retraining therapy/cognitive behavioral therapy, and auditory rehabilitation in this modified Delphi study. The results of this study can provide beneficial and practical information for clinicians regarding the treatment of tinnitus.