What are Deaf sign language users' experiences as patients in healthcare services? A scoping review.

Journal: PLOS global public health

Volume: 5

Issue: 2

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Abstract summary 

Deaf people who use a signed language experience poorer physical and mental health outcomes and inequalities in access and delivery of health services.A scoping review was conducted to identify and synthesise current knowledge on the perspectives of Deaf people and their experience of healthcare.Databases PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL were used for this review.Any studies internationally of any design that involve Deaf signing populations that reported on patient experience within healthcare settings from a Deaf perspective were included in the review.The abstract, title, and initial screening was followed by full text screening completed by two screeners independently. The extracted data included descriptive data and study findings. The Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT) was applied, and findings were summarised using narrative synthesis.Across the 51 included papers, problems with language, communication and interaction featured prominently. Failure to meet Deaf people's needs has adverse impacts; examples of these include negative emotional state, disempowerment through lack of knowledge, and lack of confidence in healthcare systems.The review uniquely focused on data generated from Deaf people regarding their experience, rather than third party commentary. It confirmed a less than optimal Deaf patient experience, clinical impacts of poor experience, and negative patient and healthcare systems outcomes. This supports the case for a reliable and valid measure in a signed language to capture Deaf patients' experience in healthcare.

Authors & Co-authors:  Rogers Katherine D KD Lovell Karina K Bower Peter P Armitage Christopher J CJ Young Alys A

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Ladd P. Understanding Deaf culture: in search of Deafhood. Clevedon: Multinlingual Matters; 2003.
Authors :  5
Identifiers
Doi : e0003535
SSN : 2767-3375
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
Study Design
Case Study,Narrative Study,Descriptive Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
United States