THE PERCEPTION OF DEAF PATIENTS REGARDING HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to identify the communication methods used to care for the Deaf in health services, investigate how to establish the link between the Deaf and the health professionals and verify the perceptions of the Deaf on in the way they are treated in the health services. Methodology: This is a descriptive and exploratory qualitative study, involving 26 deaf people, who were interviewed using sign language. The interactions were transcribed in a questionnaire, keeping the characteristic grammatical construction expression of these persons. Results and discussion: The Deaf persons do not achieve effective communication during the health care, so they end up experiencing negative feelings. The reports of the study participants pointed out difficulties in order to obtain qualified health care services such as: absence of and disrupted communication, one of the biggest obstacles which jeopardize a possible link between health professionals and the deaf, and consequently compromises the care, the necessity to intermediation by the companion. Also reported the desire to have in the health services a professional interpreter and the lack of ability of the professionals who treat them. Final considerations: It is necessary that the professionals use the super segmental aspects for the deaf may have a support in care, therefore suggests the necessity to employ sign language as a curricular component, in spite of being optional, but obligatory in all healthcare undergraduate courses. In linght of the true accounts there is evidence that health professionals are unprepared to care for deaf patients.