Effectiveness of Self-Management Education for Deaf Individuals With Hypertension: A Quasi-Experimental Study

In South Korea, hypertension (HTN) is prevalent among deaf individuals, with a reported rate of 63.9%, which is higher than in the general population. To manage this condition effectively, a self-management education intervention is needed. In particular, since deaf individuals generally exhibit low levels of health literacy, it is essential to develop interventions that consider their limited health literacy. This study evaluates the impact of the Hypertension Self-Management Education for the Hearing Impaired Using Sign Language (H-SMILE) program. Using a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group design, 16 deaf participants received the 6-week H-SMILE program, whereas 17 participants attended a single traditional lecture session. Outcomes measured included depression, quality of life, HTN knowledge, health literacy, self-care, medication adherence, and clinical indicators, assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 2 months post-intervention. Immediately post-intervention, the H-SMILE group showed improvements in self-care management, self-care confidence, and functional health literacy, alongside an increase in depression compared to controls. These effects did not persist at the 2-month follow-up. The H-SMILE program shows initial effectiveness but requires strategies for long-term sustainability of outcomes.