Deaf individuals throughout the US have tremendous difficulty accessing healthcare services for a myriad of complex reasons. It has also been demonstrated that, on average, individuals affected by hearing loss have a poorer health status, lower income, lower literary, and lower educational level than the average individual with normal hearing. Understanding barriers to various health care services from the perspective of deaf individuals has not been systematically studied. This information is critical to improving the quality of care for these individuals.
A series of 12 focus groups, with an average of 8 deaf adults per group, was conducted over a 3 month period in Rochester, New York. Meetings were held at local community centers that were easily accessible to deaf volunteers from diverse socioeconomic, educational, and cultural backgrounds. Participants were asked to discuss the barriers they face when accessing various types of healthcare services (e.g. mental health services) and/or healthcare providers; and their suggestions for improving the current level of care available to them. At the end of each group, the volunteers completed a short written health information quiz to assess their level of basic health knowledge.
Information gained from the focus groups will be presented to illustrate the self-identified needs of local deaf individuals as well as the fund of health knowledge gaps that exist that complicate doctor/patient communication and the deaf patient’s health.
Learning Objectives: 1) Participants will be able to list the most common barriers identified by deaf consumers of healthcare services 2) Participants will be able to list suggestions provided by deaf consumers to improve delivery of healthcare services 3) Participants will learn about the healthcare knowledge gaps of deaf individuals as identified by a written quiz
Keywords: Deaf Patients, Health Care Access
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.