Table 3 Key Patient and Healthcare Personnel considerations for a locally responsive ototoxicity monitoring programme

Patient Considerations

 • Synchronizing audiology appointments with other medical appointments to the same facility

 • Communication in indigenous language (isiZulu)

 • Pre-treatment counselling for educating, informing and creating awareness on hearing loss and the value of early intervention; and for quelling uncertainties/fears associated with audiological procedures

 • Comfort breaks during audiological testing

 • Efficient referral network for other clinical/supportive care, e.g. ENT, psychologist

Healthcare Personnel Considerations

 • Information sharing session where the roles of healthcare personnel within the programme are clearly delineated

 • Communication to patients in local indigenous language (isiZulu)

 • Cohesive team approach for patient referrals for baseline and follow-up audiological assessments

 • Provision of written feedback to clinicians in respect of patients’ audiological assessment results, promoting a collaborative relationship between the Departments of Oncology and Audiology

 • Ototoxicity information to patients made patients more responsive and increased compliance in programme