Perceptions of physiotherapists regarding challenges experienced by patients with Deafness in accessing rehabilitative care.
Meluleki S Thethwayo, Olivia Baloyi
PMID 41200727WHAT IT FOUND
Physiotherapists in South Africa reported treating deaf patients differently due to communication barriers, including offering less detailed information and excluding them from decision-making.
They relied on family members for interpretation, acknowledging this compromised confidentiality and accuracy.
Key findings
01Participants admitted to involuntarily offering less detailed treatment information, not attending to all rehabilitation aspects, and excluding deaf patients from care decision-making.
02Deaf patients relied on family members for interpretation, which raised concerns about the family's ability to convey complex medical information accurately and breaches of patient confidentiality.
03Physiotherapists perceived themselves as ill-equipped to adapt rehabilitation techniques for deaf patients, finding it hard to modify exercises so patients could fully understand and participate.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted in only three hospitals in one province, so findings may not generalise to other settings. The interview guide was peer-reviewed but not piloted for accuracy. The study captures the perspective of providers, not the direct experiences of deaf patients.
Declared interests
The authors declared no commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the therapists' reported behaviours, such as excluding patients from decisions or relying on family interpreters, as accepted practice. The study reports these as perceived barriers and biases to be addressed, not as effective clinical strategies.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →