Background: The purpose of this narrative study was to understand personal experiences of a Deaf individual when communicating with healthcare professionals, to describe personal feelings regarding challenges and successes experienced during healthcare interactions, and express the need for culturally competent healthcare providers with increasingly diverse populations.
Method: The participant interviewed is a member of the Deaf community, uses American Sign Language (ASL), and had multiple decades of major medical treatments. The study was conducted using a semi-structured method with a certified interpreter (CI) present to interpret and was audio and video recorded to account for all aspects of the signed language.
Results: There were a total of 5 narratives and 4 major themes found throughout the interview. In addition, a section of other important information as stated by the Deaf participant was added to better explain the viewpoints of the participant. Results demonstrate the importance of including a certified interpreter to facilitate comprehension and understanding by Deaf individuals during medical treatments.
Conclusion: Utilizing a person’s native language gives them the opportunity to be fully involved and competent when making important health decisions. Culturally competent healthcare professionals are needed as populations continue to grow in diversity in order to provide all clients with satisfying care.
","abstract_html":"<p>Background: The purpose of this narrative study was to understand personal experiences of a Deaf individual when communicating with healthcare professionals, to describe personal feelings regarding challenges and successes experienced during healthcare interactions, and express the need for culturally competent healthcare providers with increasingly diverse populations. </p> <p>Method: The participant interviewed is a member of the Deaf community, uses American Sign Language (ASL), and had multiple decades of major medical treatments. The study was conducted using a semi-structured method with a certified interpreter (CI) present to interpret and was audio and video recorded to account for all aspects of the signed language. </p> <p>Results: There were a total of 5 narratives and 4 major themes found throughout the interview. In addition, a section of other important information as stated by the Deaf participant was added to better explain the viewpoints of the participant. Results demonstrate the importance of including a certified interpreter to facilitate comprehension and understanding by Deaf individuals during medical treatments. </p> <p>Conclusion: Utilizing a person’s native language gives them the opportunity to be fully involved and competent when making important health decisions. Culturally competent healthcare professionals are needed as populations continue to grow in diversity in order to provide all clients with satisfying care. </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Lykins, Sarah Kaylynn"],"institution":"Eastern Kentucky University","degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Master's","degree_discipline":"Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2016,"date_issued":"2016-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2016-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:32Z","subjects":["Cultural Competence","Deaf Culture","Healthcare","Occupational Justice","International and Intercultural Communication","Occupational Therapy"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright 2016 Sarah Kaylynn Lykins"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/393","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Lykins, Sarah Kaylynn"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Master Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master's"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Eastern Kentucky University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Cultural Competence","Deaf Culture","Healthcare","Occupational Justice","International and Intercultural Communication","Occupational Therapy"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2016 Sarah Kaylynn Lykins"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/393"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Background: The purpose of this narrative study was to understand personal experiences of a Deaf individual when communicating with healthcare professionals, to describe personal feelings regarding challenges and successes experienced during healthcare interactions, and express the need for culturally competent healthcare providers with increasingly diverse populations.
Method: The participant interviewed is a member of the Deaf community, uses American Sign Language (ASL), and had multiple decades of major medical treatments. The study was conducted using a semi-structured method with a certified interpreter (CI) present to interpret and was audio and video recorded to account for all aspects of the signed language.
Results: There were a total of 5 narratives and 4 major themes found throughout the interview. In addition, a section of other important information as stated by the Deaf participant was added to better explain the viewpoints of the participant. Results demonstrate the importance of including a certified interpreter to facilitate comprehension and understanding by Deaf individuals during medical treatments.
Conclusion: Utilizing a person’s native language gives them the opportunity to be fully involved and competent when making important health decisions. Culturally competent healthcare professionals are needed as populations continue to grow in diversity in order to provide all clients with satisfying care.
"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:source","label":"Dc Source","values":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Deaf Experience in a Hearing Medical World"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Lykins, Sarah Kaylynn"],"dc:description.abstract":["Background: The purpose of this narrative study was to understand personal experiences of a Deaf individual when communicating with healthcare professionals, to describe personal feelings regarding challenges and successes experienced during healthcare interactions, and express the need for culturally competent healthcare providers with increasingly diverse populations.
Method: The participant interviewed is a member of the Deaf community, uses American Sign Language (ASL), and had multiple decades of major medical treatments. The study was conducted using a semi-structured method with a certified interpreter (CI) present to interpret and was audio and video recorded to account for all aspects of the signed language.
Results: There were a total of 5 narratives and 4 major themes found throughout the interview. In addition, a section of other important information as stated by the Deaf participant was added to better explain the viewpoints of the participant. Results demonstrate the importance of including a certified interpreter to facilitate comprehension and understanding by Deaf individuals during medical treatments.
Conclusion: Utilizing a person’s native language gives them the opportunity to be fully involved and competent when making important health decisions. Culturally competent healthcare professionals are needed as populations continue to grow in diversity in order to provide all clients with satisfying care.
"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/393"],"dc:publisher":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2016 Sarah Kaylynn Lykins"],"dc:source":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"],"dc:subject":["Cultural Competence","Deaf Culture","Healthcare","Occupational Justice","International and Intercultural Communication","Occupational Therapy"],"dc:title":["The Deaf Experience in a Hearing Medical World"],"dc:type":["Master Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master's"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Eastern Kentucky University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:32Z"}