Hearing loss is highly prevalent and impacts many aspects of a person’s life, including communication, social engagement, employment, general health and well-being. Yet, many people do not access hearing healthcare and are unaware of the range of hearing healthcare options available. Barriers to hearing healthcare include poor understanding of hearing loss and its impact; poor knowledge of help-seeking for hearing healthcare options; minimal support to help decide which option is best; and stigma related to hearing loss. These barriers lead to many people not receiving the hearing healthcare they need. Guided by theories of behaviour change and implementation science, HearChoice, an online tailored decision support intervention, has been co-developed to empower adults with hearing difficulties by offering them choice and control over their own hearing healthcare. HearChoice aims to facilitate informed decisions, accessibility and uptake of hearing healthcare, including a wide range of interventions, for adults with hearing difficulties. The objectives of the trial are to evaluate the effectiveness, health economics and feasibility of HearChoice.

This online randomised controlled trial will recruit participants with hearing difficulties across Australia, with an anticipated sample size of 640. Participants will be randomised to either HearChoice (treatment) or an Australia-specific Hearing Option Grid (active control), both delivered online. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline when the interventions will be offered, at 7 days post-intervention (primary endpoint) and at 3 months post-intervention. An email reminder will be sent at 1-month post-intervention. The primary outcome is decisional conflict. Secondary outcomes include measures of readiness and self-efficacy to take action, hearing-related quality of life and empowerment, assessment of the value and impact of HearChoice, work performance and health, and feasibility measures. Primary analysis will compare outcomes between HearChoice and the active control at the primary endpoint.

The study was approved by the Curtin University Human Ethics Committee (HRE2023-0024). All participants will provide written informed consent prior to participation. A broad dissemination plan of the study findings includes peer-reviewed publications, scientific conference presentations, articles and presentations for the wider community and public written in lay and accessible language, and social media.

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12624001139561).

This study aimed to estimate reductions in travel-related carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, travel time and distance resulting from a telemedicine service for patients with chronic conditions, and to assess its potential to contribute to more equitable access to specialised care in Northeast Brazil.

Cross-sectional study.

Primary healthcare units in the Northeast region of Brazil.

Patients between birth and 104 years of age with chronic conditions who received video-based teleconsultations between June 2022 and November 2023.

The primary outcome was the reduction in travel-related carbon emissions due to avoided in-person referrals. Secondary outcomes included travel time and travel distance savings. Round-trip distances between primary healthcare units and referral centres were estimated using geolocation data. CO₂ emissions were calculated using the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol adapted to Brazil (Brazilian GHG Protocol Programme), focusing on Scope 3 emissions from patient travel.

A total of 4642 teleconsultations were conducted with 4106 patients. Of these, 4021 (86.6%) avoided in-person referrals, resulting in estimated savings of 226 900 miles in travel distance and 488 584 min in travel time. The estimated CO₂ emissions avoided totalled 21 593 kg (21 930 kg CO₂ equivalent), with a mean of 5.37 kg (SD±5.5) per teleconsultation (5.4 kg CO₂ equivalent ; SD±5.5). Greater travel distance savings were observed among patients living in municipalities with lower Municipal Human Development Index (mean 92.3±104.2 miles vs 17.3±8.4 miles; p

Telemedicine use in Northeast Brazil significantly reduced patient travel, leading to substantial savings in CO₂ emissions. These savings were more pronounced for patients in smaller, less developed municipalities. By reducing the need for travel, telemedicine can improve access to healthcare for remote or underserved populations, while also supporting environmental sustainability.