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Erschienen in: Journal of Community Health 5/2018

25.04.2018 | Original Paper

American Sign Language Interpreters Perceptions of Barriers to Healthcare Communication in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Patients

verfasst von: Rachel E. Hommes, Amy I. Borash, Kari Hartwig, Donna DeGracia

Erschienen in: Journal of Community Health | Ausgabe 5/2018

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Abstract

Communication barriers between healthcare providers and patients contribute to health disparities and the effectiveness of health promotion messages. This is especially true regarding communication between providers and deaf and hard of hearing (HOH) patients due to lack of understanding of cultural and linguistic differences, ineffectiveness of various means of communication and level of health literacy within that population. This research aimed to identify American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters’ perceptions of barriers to effective communication between deaf and HOH patients and healthcare providers. We conducted a survey of ASL interpreters attending the 2015 National Symposium on Healthcare Interpreting with an overall response rate of 25%. Results indicated a significant difference (p < 0.05) in all areas of preferred communication between providers and deaf/HOH patients as perceived by interpreters. ASL interpreters observed that patients did not understand provider instructions in nearly half of appointments. Eighty-one percent of interpreters said that providers “hardly ever” use “teach-back” methods with patients to ensure understanding. A focus on improving health care and health promotion efforts in the deaf/HOH community depends on improving communication, health literacy, and patient empowerment and involves holding health care organizations accountable for assuring adequate staffing of ASL interpreters and communication resources in order to reduce health disparities in this population.
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Metadaten
Titel
American Sign Language Interpreters Perceptions of Barriers to Healthcare Communication in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Patients
verfasst von
Rachel E. Hommes
Amy I. Borash
Kari Hartwig
Donna DeGracia
Publikationsdatum
25.04.2018
Verlag
Springer US
Erschienen in
Journal of Community Health / Ausgabe 5/2018
Print ISSN: 0094-5145
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-3610
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-018-0511-3

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