What are Deaf sign language users' experiences as patients in healthcare services? A scoping review

Deaf people who use a signed language experience poorer physical and mental health outcomes and inequalities in access and delivery of health services.

A scoping review was conducted to identify and synthesise current knowledge on the perspectives of Deaf people and their experience of healthcare.

Databases PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL were used for this review.

Any studies internationally of any design that involve Deaf signing populations that reported on patient experience within healthcare settings from a Deaf perspective were included in the review.

The abstract, title, and initial screening was followed by full text screening completed by two screeners independently. The extracted data included descriptive data and study findings. The Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT) was applied, and findings were summarised using narrative synthesis.

Across the 51 included papers, problems with language, communication and interaction featured prominently. Failure to meet Deaf people's needs has adverse impacts; examples of these include negative emotional state, disempowerment through lack of knowledge, and lack of confidence in healthcare systems.

The review uniquely focused on data generated from Deaf people regarding their experience, rather than third party commentary. It confirmed a less than optimal Deaf patient experience, clinical impacts of poor experience, and negative patient and healthcare systems outcomes. This supports the case for a reliable and valid measure in a signed language to capture Deaf patients' experience in healthcare.