Healthcare Experiences and Care Quality Among Deafblind Individuals: A Qualitative Study

Deafblindness is a combined vision and hearing impairment, which results in difficulties with communication, information acquisition, orientation, and mobility. Access to information in accessible formats and communication support is crucial for individuals who are deafblind, particularly within the healthcare system, where communication barriers can result in inadequate medical treatments or misdiagnoses. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the experiences and challenges of deafblind individuals within healthcare settings, as well as their satisfaction with the quality of care received. A focus group with six deafblind individuals was conducted, with an interpreter facilitating communication. Analysis of participants’ experiences identified eight themes, with the greatest challenges being inadequate organization of the healthcare system and communication difficulties with medical professionals. Although interpreters are essential for effective communication, participants reported situations where they were not allowed to be present during examinations. Despite the dedication of certain healthcare professionals, they mostly emphasized negative experiences and expressed overall low satisfaction with the quality of care received. Deafblind individuals face numerous challenges in the healthcare system that diminish satisfaction with care, underscoring the importance of raising awareness about deafblindness and ensuring that the accessibility requirements of this population (such as communication support) are addressed in healthcare practice.