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Behavioural determinants of engagement with vestibular care pathways in adults: a COM-B scoping review

A dispatch from PubMed — filed

Adults experiencing dizziness or vestibular disorders frequently encounter barriers to help seeking and healthcare engagement. However, the behavioural determinants underlying these behaviours have not been systematically synthesised....

Clinical Takeaway

Audiologists and vestibular clinicians should consider assessing patients' knowledge gaps, motivation, and access barriers when designing vestibular rehabilitation pathways, as these behavioural factors demonstrably influence engagement.

Why It Matters

Understanding why patients disengage from vestibular care can guide the design of more effective referral and rehabilitation programs, addressing a well-recognised gap in vestibular service uptake.

Key Points
  1. 01A COM-B scoping review systematically mapped barriers and facilitators to engaging with vestibular care in adults.
  2. 02Published in the International Journal of Audiology, a leading peer-reviewed audiology journal.
  3. 03The COM-B model covers Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation as drivers of health behaviour.
  4. 04Findings can inform patient-centred interventions to improve vestibular rehabilitation uptake.
  5. 05Behavioural determinants are modifiable, suggesting practical targets for clinical and service-level change.
Claims & Evidence

Behavioural determinants — including barriers and facilitators — influence adults' engagement with vestibular care pathways.

studysupported

The COM-B framework is applicable for mapping engagement factors in vestibular care.

studypartially supported
Research metadata
PMID
42495781
DOI
10.1080/14992027.2026.2706386.
Journal
International Journal of Audiology
Publication type
review
Evidence level
2a
Population
Adults engaging (or failing to engage) with vestibular care pathways
Intervention
COM-B framework analysis of behavioural determinants of vestibular care engagement

Primary outcomes

Identification of behavioural barriers to vestibular care engagement; Identification of behavioural facilitators of vestibular care engagement

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