The J3 Group, a Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI) Tribal member-owned company, is partnering with researchers from the federal government, academia and industry to conduct safety and health research and intervention in our community. J3 Group conducted a hearing protection fit-test study to evaluate the effectiveness of their patented Sert-A-Plug (SAP) insertion tool in collaboration with the Siletz Community Health Clinic in April and August of 2024. Altogether more than 1% of the Tribal membership joined the research study. Sixty-seven Tribal members participating in the study that aimed to examine the difference in the personal attenuation rating (PAR) between naive and experimenter-assisted fit and those inserted using the SAP tool. The study also asked participants to rate the comfort and ease of use as well as duration of time spent using the SAP tool. Ninety percent of participants rated Sert-A-Plug as easy to use and 87% reported a “better fit” with Sert-A-Plug.
Overall, the PAR studies were a resounding success garnering great results and receiving excellent support from Tribal members and officials, and the Siletz community. The studies provide the scientific community and hearing loss prevention researchers with important and critical new findings and information as the Department of Defense gears up to use Fit-Testing as a requirement for protecting its servicemembers from high levels of noise. The J3 Group wishes to thank all participants and Tribal officials who welcomed us with open arms, without whom these studies would not have been possible.