Enhancing Communication and Accessibility in Healthcare for the Deaf Community

This study addresses communication barriers for Deaf individuals in healthcare by introducing the Deaf in Touch Everywhere (DITE™) app, which connects Malaysia’s Deaf community with off-site interpreters via secure video conferencing. The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of measuring user acceptance of DITE™ using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, and to gather feedback from Deaf users and BIM interpreters for app improvements. Over a two-week testing period, 18 participants completed the adapted UTAUT questionnaire and participated in focus group discussions. Results showed high ratings for performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, and behavioral intention across both groups, with additional design suggestions provided. The study concludes that involving end users in the app’s design ensures it effectively meets the needs of the Deaf community and interpreters, supporting its continued development.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241228432

This study investigates communication challenges faced by Deaf individuals in healthcare, focusing on patient-physician interactions and factors influencing the use of communication support during medical consultations. A scoping review was conducted using a comprehensive search across four databases, analysing data from ten journal articles. Four key themes emerged: patient experiences with communication methods, healthcare practitioners’ cultural competence in Deaf culture, communication method challenges, and external influencing factors. Although professional interpreters are preferred, writing and lip-reading remain common in healthcare, with video remote interpreting used less frequently. The study emphasises the need for healthcare professionals to understand Deaf patients’ diverse communication needs and adopt a person-centered approach. Recommendations are provided for healthcare practice, education, and policy to enhance Deaf patient-physician interactions.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2022.05.001

There is a critical need for culturally competent healthcare providers (HCPs) to effectively care for Deaf signers, a linguistic and cultural minority group often facing lower health literacy due to limited access to health information and incidental learning. Communication barriers are common, as HCPs are generally unprepared to meet the unique needs of Deaf signers, leading to poor-quality interactions, diagnostic errors, and mistrust in the healthcare system. Additionally, many sign language interpreters lack comprehensive medical training, complicating accurate communication. Training in cultural competency has been shown to improve HCPs’ knowledge and confidence when interacting with Deaf patients, while Deaf signers report better experiences with medically trained interpreters and HCPs skilled in sign language. To foster these competencies, health education should incorporate Deaf cultural norms, case discussions on Deaf patients, and role-play with Deaf community members. These approaches equip future HCPs with the skills and knowledge needed to provide equitable and culturally sensitive healthcare for Deaf signers.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000004181

This study investigates the communication challenges between community pharmacists in Malaysia and Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) patients who use BIM, focusing on pharmacists’ comfort levels and their choice of communication methods, resources, and perceived employer support. Conducted as a cross-sectional survey with 297 community pharmacist respondents, the study assessed comfort levels, preferred communication methods, and the impact of sign language training. Results showed that pharmacists felt moderately comfortable interacting with DHH patients, with higher comfort levels reported among those who had previous experience handling DHH patient prescriptions. Over 80% relied on written communication, while only 3.4% had used a qualified sign language interpreter. Pharmacists who saw sign language training as essential reported lower comfort levels than those uninterested in such training. The study concludes that comfort levels alone may not fully explain pharmacists’ communication choices, suggesting other factors may influence their approach when interacting with DHH patients.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2021.2.2274

This study addresses communication barriers faced by Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) patients when interacting with community pharmacists and accessing healthcare services. It explores the perspectives of DHH individuals on a proposed mobile health (mHealth) app designed to improve communication. Using a community-based participatory research approach, two focus group discussions were conducted in BIM with ten DHH participants, recruited through purposive sampling. Video-recorded discussions were thematically analysed, revealing two main themes: challenges and scepticism regarding the healthcare system, and desired app features. Participants voiced concerns about accessing healthcare, highlighting the need for BIM interpreters and expressing worries about data privacy and security. Most participants preferred video-based information over text due to lower literacy levels. The study concludes that for the mHealth app to be effective, it must be culturally and linguistically tailored to the DHH community. Additionally, pharmacists should educate DHH patients on the app’s potential to support medication management.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21037/mhealth.2020.01.04

This study aims to lay the foundation for designing and developing a mobile health (mHealth) app intended to bridge the communication gap between pharmacists and patients who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHoH). A focus group of 12 community pharmacists, recruited through snowball sampling, participated in discussions that were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically. The study revealed three main themes: recommendations for app design and content, perceived benefits, and potential challenges. Pharmacists believed the app could enhance communication and strengthen relationships with DHoH patients. However, challenges such as staffing needs, costs for economically disadvantaged users, and privacy concerns were noted. The study’s conclusions emphasise that engaging community pharmacists as end-users in app development enables them to better support DHoH patients, ultimately aiming to improve health outcomes through more accessible and effective pharmaceutical care.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S182516