Communication barriers for d/Deaf people with cancer: a scoping review

Abstract Purpose Significant healthcare disparities can be experienced by d/Deaf individuals, particularly in accessing effective communication and health information. Limited research has examined the experiences of d/Deaf cancer patients or how their interactions with healthcare professionals (HCPs) and communication support professionals (CSPs) influence their quality of care. This scoping review aimed to map current evidence about the communication and unmet needs of d/Deaf cancer patients, educational needs of HCPs and roles of CSPs. Methods Following the Joanna Briggs Institute method for Scoping Reviews, database searches were conducted on PsycInfo, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and Scopus, and grey literature was identified. Papers published in English that reported on the experiences of d/Deaf cancer patients and their communication with HCPs and CSPs were included. Thematic analysis was used to identify key descriptive themes. Results Only nine (1 quantitative, 7 qualitative, 1 mixed-methods) papers were included. Most focused on d/Deaf cancer patients (mainly breast cancer); only 1 included HCPs and none examined CSPs. Three main themes and 9 subthemes were identified that negatively impacted d/Deaf cancer patients’ views about their healthcare: system-level factors; interpersonal factors and patient-level factors. The HCP-focused paper highlighted that collaboration with interpreting services enhanced communication and patient understanding. Conclusions Despite limited data, this review highlights multiple barriers d/Deaf patients can encounter when accessing cancer services. Collectively, these may affect effective communication practices and can compromise the quality of care delivered. Data supports accessible educational resources, improved access to qualified medical interpreters and deaf awareness training for HCPs.