Chronic Disease Self-Management Program in American Sign Language: Evaluation and Recommendations

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Education
• Disability Studies

Background:

• The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) is effective for diverse populations but may not reach the Deaf community.
• Deafness is linked to chronic health issues and lower health literacy, highlighting a need for accessible health education.
• American Sign Language (ASL) is the primary language for many in the Deaf community.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt the CDSMP curriculum for Deaf participants using ASL.
• To evaluate the adapted program's fidelity, participant satisfaction, and gather qualitative feedback.
• To provide recommendations for enhancing CDSMP accessibility for the Deaf community.

Main Methods:

• The study involved adapting the CDSMP curriculum into ASL.
• CDSMP was delivered by lay leaders in ASL to Deaf participants.
• Program fidelity, participant satisfaction, and qualitative feedback were assessed.

Main Results:

• Program fidelity was high at 93%.
• Participant satisfaction was high at 88.9%.
• Qualitative feedback from participants and lay leaders provided insights for implementation.

Conclusions:

• The CDSMP can be successfully adapted and delivered in ASL to Deaf participants with minimal modifications.
• Offering CDSMP in ASL improves accessibility and promises better health outcomes for the Deaf community.
• Ten recommendations were developed to guide the implementation of CDSMP for Deaf learners.