Preparing Providers and Staff to Engage in Culturally-Sensitive Interactions with Deaf Clients

Abstract

The American Academy of Nursing (2015) encourages the provision of culturally sensitive care to improve health outcomes in vulnerable populations. The culturally Deaf population of Americans include 500,000 people who have hearing loss, communicate in American Sign Language (ASL), do not consider themselves disabled, and share unique traditions, values, and social norms (Reader, Foulkes, & Robinson, 2017). Training in the health professions generally does not include Deaf specific material and as a result, most workers in the healthcare industry have a lack of knowledge about effective communication methods, legal considerations, and Deaf needs (Velonaki et al., 2015; Gichane, Heap, Fontes, & London, 2017). Lack of communication between Deaf patient and staff at the clinic can lead to patient frustration, mistrust in the healthcare system, or incorrect diagnosis and treatment (Crowe, 2017). A literature review found exposure to a culturally Deaf person, simulation, and workshops longer than an hour can increase knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) of healthcare staff (Mathews, Parkhill, Schlehofer, Starr, & Barnett, 2011; Ruesch, 2018). The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement a Deaf culture training program at St. Elizabeth’s Health Center (SEHC) to increase staff KSA to better serve the needs of the Deaf community in southern Arizona. The four-week intervention included video content featuring a culturally Deaf person followed by a recorded panel with a local Deaf person and ASL interpreter. The study question of this project was: “Does a Deaf culture training program at an integrated health center change the KSA of participants regarding Deaf culture?” Four participants engaged in the project fully. Average skills and attitude increased from pre- to post-intervention, but the difference was not statistically significant. Average knowledge did not change from pre- to post-intervention. Skills and attitudes about Deaf culture may be easier to change than knowledge.