The experiences and opinions of deaf service users accessing radiology

Abstract

All healthcare providers must ensure unrestricted access to care and equitable opportunity without barriers. Deaf persons, on the other hand, continue to experience difficulties in all facets of the healthcare system daily. Therefore, the study aims to explore deaf people's perspectives of accessing radiology in Ireland to develop further a set of instructions that could optimize communication between deaf people and radiographers. This was a qualitative study in which the experiences of deaf people were explored by conducting a solution-focused workshop with eight deaf participants. The identified themes from the transcript of the solution-focused workshop revolve around the barriers and challenges that deaf individuals encounter when accessing healthcare services. Also, factors such as stigma, lack of patience and poor attitude can influence deaf people's decision on whether they should return to that healthcare setting. Therefore, creating awareness and improving communication techniques could encourage deaf people to return for treatments or services and prevent a delay in healthcare treatment. Also, A national standard for communicating with deaf patients in Radiology Departments is a vital part that must be considered to ensure the area's continued development and advancement and to bridge the gap in communication between deaf patients and radiographers.