Barriers and enablers to general practitioner referral of older adults to hearing care: a systematic review using the theoretical domains framework.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The purpose of this systematic review was to identify and synthesise the literature regarding barriers and enablers affecting general practitioner (GP) referral to hearing care for their older patients (50 years and over).

Methods

A search of peer-reviewed articles reporting primary empirical studies was conducted across CINAHL, Ovid Medline and Scopus, with search terms relating to the search domains "General Practitioner", "Referral", "Hearing loss", and "adults aged 50 and older". Qualitative and quantitative studies were included if they reported barriers or enablers to referral. A mixed-methods approach was used to synthesise the findings of the included studies, firstly into the Theoretical Domains Framework of behaviour change, and then into more granular sub-

SUBMITTER: Davine EC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12378124 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature