Kommunikation med hörselskadade patienter inom vården
en deskriptiv studie
Objective: From the patient?s perspective describe communication difficulties, which can arise, and how they are handled in their contact with public health care and illustrate their needs of communication.Method: A study of literature was carried out to receive a background and an insight in previous research concerning the subject area. Twelve women with hearing loss was asked to complete a questionnaire, with open questions, regarding communication difficulties in health care situations.Sample: For the literature review, scientific papers were selected via the database, PubMed using relevant keywords. Seven were selected for closer review. For the survey study twelve women were asked to participate which ten of those responded.Results: The study of literature shows that communication difficulties occur in public health care between patients with hearing loss and the nursing staff. These are mainly due to lack of information, lack of knowledge and comprehension regarding hearing disorders. Also, there is a lack of knowledge about methods in communication and factors regarding environment and surrounding. This affects the patients with a not sufficient quality of the care in comparison with the care for hearing patients. The causes of communication problems above are confirmed by the questionnaire study. Most of the participants experienced insecurity in their contact with public health care due to communication difficulties and they expressed that they often meet unsympathetic nursing staff. This can create dejectedness among the patients. The results from both literature review and the survey shows that education to all nursing staff, regarding communication and meeting of patient with hearing loss, can solve the problems.Conclusions: Special education efforts to nursing staff regarding communication with patients with hearing loss are needed. That can give conditions to the health care service to achieve the goal about a good and high qualitative care.