Preventive attitudes and beliefs of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals

Objective: To investigate the unique health care issues of deaf and hard-of -hearing (D&HH) persons by studying their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors toward preventive medicine. Design: A self-administered, cross-sectional survey, written in a format co mprehensible to persons whose primary language is American Sign Language. Population: One hundred forty D&HH persons recruited from southeastern Mich igan, Chicago, Ill, and Rochester, NY, and 76 hearing subjects from southea stern Michigan and Rochester. Results: No significant differences existed between D&HH or hearing persons from different states. However, numerous differences existed between D&HH and hearing persons. Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons were less likely to r eport receiving preventive information from physicians or the media, and mo re likely to report receiving it from a Deaf club. They rated the following physician-initiated procedures as less important than hearing persons: dis cussion of alcohol consumption, smoking, depression, and diet, plus screeni ng for hypertension, hearing loss, and cancer. Deaf and hard-of-hearing per sons often considered a preventive procedure important if it was reported p erformed at their last health maintenance examination. They were less likel y to report being asked about alcohol consumption and smoking, or to having been examined for hypertension, cancer, height, and weight. They were more likely to report receiving a hearing examination, mammogram, and Papanicol aou smear. Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons were less likely to report beli eving that smoking less, exercising regularly, maintaining ideal weight, an d regular physical examinations improve health. Differences existed within the D&HH cohort depending on the respondent's preferred language (oral Engl ish vs American Sign Language); our sample size was too small for a complet e assessment of these differences. Conclusions: Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons appear to have unique knowled ge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding preventive medicine, and their attit udes are influenced by their personal experiences with physicians. Preventi ve practices addressed during health visits may differ between D&HH and hea ring patients. Further research is needed to clarify the reasons for these differences, including within D&HH subgroups, and to develop effective mech anisms to improve the health care of all D&HH persons.