The professionalisation of audiology
Publication Date
July 19, 2019
Creator
Abstract
While it is generally accepted that the professions enjoy a special status within modern western societies, it is increasingly recognised that new models of public management reform, with their slant on cost containment, pose challenges to the professions, especially those in the public sector. The purpose of this thesis is to explore professional development in UK audiology in the context of public health management reforms between 1997 and 2016.
A chronological case study design informed by methodologies for studying elites was used to examine a range of data including one-to-one interviews with professional elites; and secondary materials including policy documents and trade press articles, to explore professional development.
The findings of this study demonstrate that Audiology was considerably influenced by the state between 1997 and 2016. Models of public management reform, especially New Public Management, were used by the state to improve access to hearing healthcare in the UK. Undoubtedly, the professions’ relatively small size and low status made it more responsive to state intervention as compared to archetypal professions such as medicine. The role of elites within the profession was to negotiate and reconcile the demands of the state and public with their own desires. Achieving social closure and status was a primary objective for elites, even in an age of austerity. This study reveals that the public was also an important stakeholder in professional development, having co-produced the Modernising Hearing Aid Programme in the early 2000’s, which saw the introduction of a digitised infrastructure and new clinical processes for fitting hearing aids in the National Health Service. Latterly there were indications that the profession was adopting a new role in mediating the excesses of cost containment, which threatened to reduce access to quality hearing healthcare.
Exclusionary tactics aimed at social closure and increasing status continue to be primary objectives for professions like audiology, although the role for professions as mediators between state and public should not be underestimated, and this raises questions around themes of ‘new professionalism’. This thesis supports the role for professions as mediators between the state and public and makes practical suggestions for how this might conceivably, be achieved.
Archetypal professions such as medicine and latterly nursing continue to dominate the professions literature. The originality of this thesis rests on is its focus on a relatively small healthcare profession which may be of interest to other small professions outside of audiology.
Item Type
ethesis
Thesis Type
DHSci
Supervisors
Subjects (LC)
Associated Schools / Departments
School of Health Sciences
eprints ID
57004
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The Professionalisation of Audiology in the UK.pdf
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