Developing a capacity-building intervention for healthcare workers to improve communication skills and awareness of hard of hearing and D/deaf patients: results from a participatory action research study.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are commonly not prepared to properly communicate with D/deaf and hard of hearing (HoH) patients. The resulting communication challenges reinforce the existing barriers to accessing and benefiting from quality of care in these populations. In response, this study aimed to develop and evaluate a capacity-building intervention for HCWs to raise their awareness of D/deaf and HoH individuals' experiences in healthcare and improve their capacity to communicate with these populations.

[Equity of care in gynecology-obstetrics for the deaf and hard of hearing : issues].

The deaf and hard of hearing population suffers from difficulties in accessing the health care system due to communication barriers with health care and administrative personnel who are often insufficiently trained in deafness issues. Gynecology-obstetrics consultations represent a gateway to the health system. Since 2011, there is a gynecology and obstetrics consultation dedicated to deaf people at the CHUV.

Developing and Evaluating a Capacity-Building Intervention for Healthcare Providers to Improve Communication Skills and Awareness of Hard of Hearing and D/deaf Populations: Protocol for a Participative Action Research-Based Study.

D/deaf and hard of hearing populations are at higher risk for experiencing physical and mental health problems compared to hearing populations. In addition, they commonly encounter barriers to accessing and benefiting from health services, which largely stem from challenges they face in communicating with healthcare providers. Healthcare providers commonly lack tailored communication skills in caring for D/deaf and hard of hearing populations, which lead to difficulties and dissatisfaction for both staff and D/deaf and hard of hearing communities.

[Health issues in deaf and hearing-impaired patients : a challenge to take up].

In Switzerland, one person out of a hundred suffers from serious hearing impairment or complete hearing loss, whereas 13 % of the population is hard of hearing. Scientific literature shows that the global health of the hearing-impaired population is also an issue (psychological distress, sexual health, chronic diseases, access to messages of prevention). It is a little-known fact that deaf people form a real community, with a complete and proper system of communication ; they share cultural norms and values.