{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,3]],"date-time":"2025-06-03T04:02:00Z","timestamp":1748923320747,"version":"3.41.0"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"PeerJ","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,2]],"date-time":"2025-06-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1748822400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n               <jats:title>Background and Aim<\/jats:title>\n               <jats:p>Communication using sign language (SL) between health care providers (HCPs) and deaf and\/or hearing-impaired (DHI) patients was reported to be difficult and oftentimes results in a compromised delivery of quality health care to patients. This study surveyed Saudi health care providers on their perception of SL knowledge on the provision of high-quality care to DHI patients.<\/jats:p>\n            <\/jats:sec>\n            <jats:sec>\n               <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n               <jats:p>This was a cross-sectional descriptive study among HCPs in different health and primary care centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was distributed officially by the Department of Surveys of King Saud University to target HCPs via email and through WhatsApp.<\/jats:p>\n            <\/jats:sec>\n            <jats:sec>\n               <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n               <jats:p>A total of 238 HCPs were included in the study, of whom 180 (75.6%) were nursing professionals and 58 were from other health specialties. Only 15 (6.3%) of HCPs claimed to have received formal training in SL. Majority of the HCPs (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\u00a0=\u00a0165, 69.3%) perceived that knowledge in SL is very important for communication with DHI patients and their families, whereas 65 (27.3%) perceived SL as somewhat important. Nurses believed that the quality of health service and care to deaf and\/or hearing-impaired (DHI) patients is impacted by the inability of HCPs to communicate effectively and deliver high-quality care without the knowledge. Nursing professionals believed that knowledge of SL will improve the quality of care provided to DHI patients compared to other HCPs (97.2% <jats:italic>vs<\/jats:italic>. 87.9%, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u00a0=\u00a00.005).<\/jats:p>\n            <\/jats:sec>\n            <jats:sec>\n               <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n               <jats:p>In order to provide DHI patients with high-quality healthcare, nurses believe that understanding SL is essential. Few nurses received formal training and few have adequate knowledge in SL. There is a need to provide nurses and HCPs adequate training in SL to improve communication with DHI patients and enhance DHI inclusivity in their management in line with the World Health Organization\u2019s Universal Health Coverage and \u201chealth care for all\u201d.<\/jats:p>\n            <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.7717\/peerj.19446","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,2]],"date-time":"2025-06-02T08:26:12Z","timestamp":1748852772000},"page":"e19446","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Sign language use in healthcare: professionals\u2019 insight"],"prefix":"10.7717","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Omaimah","family":"Qadhi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, College of Nursing, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"4443","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,2]]},"reference":[{"issue":"4","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"122","DOI":"10.1016\/S0097-5990(16)30118-X","article-title":"Analyzing patient satisfaction: a multianalytic approach","volume":"13","author":"Abramowitz","year":"1987","journal-title":"QRB. Quality Review Bulletin"},{"issue":"11","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.7759\/cureus.49655","article-title":"Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward deaf patients among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia: 2020\u20132021","volume":"15","author":"Alamro","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.4102\/curationis.v36i1.108","article-title":"Factors affecting the performance of professional nurses in Namibia","volume":"36","author":"Awases","year":"2013","journal-title":"Curationis"},{"issue":"7","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"694","DOI":"10.1097\/00001888-200207000-00009","article-title":"Communication with deaf and hard-of-hearing people: a guide for medical education","volume":"77","author":"Barnett","year":"2002","journal-title":"Academic Medicine"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-5","volume-title":"Nurse as educator: principles of teaching and learning for nursing practice: principles of teaching and learning for nursing practice","author":"Bastable","year":"2017"},{"issue":"3","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"419","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph15030419","article-title":"The national and regional prevalence rates of disability, type, of disability and severity in Saudi Arabia\u2014analysis of 2016 demographic survey data","volume":"15","author":"Bindawas","year":"2018","journal-title":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"},{"issue":"3","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"372","DOI":"10.1177\/08258597231179763","article-title":"There is no communication: a qualitative examination of deaf signers\u2019 experiences with advance care planning","volume":"38","author":"Cerilli","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal of Palliative Care"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20552076241228432","DOI":"10.1177\/20552076241228432","article-title":"The design of the Deaf in Touch Everywhere (DITE) TM mobile application with deaf and interpreter communities in Malaysia","volume":"10","author":"Chong","year":"2024","journal-title":"Digital Health"},{"issue":"5","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"661","DOI":"10.1093\/geront\/43.5.661","article-title":"The impact of hearing loss on quality of life in older adults","volume":"43","author":"Dalton","year":"2003","journal-title":"The Gerontologist"},{"issue":"2","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.22235\/ech.v10i2.2419","article-title":"Care for people with hearing impairment from the perspective of the family nurse","volume":"10","author":"Da Silva dos Santos","year":"2021","journal-title":"Enfermer\u00eda: Cuidados Humanizados"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"150","DOI":"10.51219\/JIH\/erica-edfort\/24","article-title":"Enabling a process change one nurse\u2019s experience","volume":"3","author":"Edfort","year":"2024","journal-title":"Journal of Integrated Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.17532\/jhsci.2023.2001","article-title":"Exploring critical factors affecting sign language knowledge and motivation for sign language learning in nurses: a cross-sectional study","volume":"13","author":"Hosnjak","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal of Health Sciences"},{"issue":"5","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"550","DOI":"10.1177\/07334648231212291","article-title":"Depression and health-related quality of life among older adults with hearing loss in the achieve study","volume":"43","author":"Huang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal of Applied Gerontology"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-14","first-page":"755457","article-title":"Supporting equity and inclusion of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in professional organizations","volume-title":"Frontiers in Education","volume":"Vol.\u00a06","author":"Huyck","year":"2021"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.1177\/10497323211046238","article-title":"They\u2019re not willing to accommodate Deaf patients: communication experiences of Deaf American Sign Language users in the emergency department","volume":"32","author":"James","year":"2022","journal-title":"Qualitative Health Research"},{"issue":"4","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-16","first-page":"239","article-title":"Communication strategies for nurses interacting with deaf patients","volume":"16","author":"Lieu","year":"2007","journal-title":"MEDSURG Nursing"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-17","article-title":"Transforming language access for deaf patients in healthcare","volume":"277","author":"Mathew","year":"2024","journal-title":"The Journal on Technology and Persons with Disabilities"},{"issue":"19","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7748\/ns2006.01.20.19.51.c4044","article-title":"Communicating effectively with deaf patients","volume":"20","author":"McAleer","year":"2006","journal-title":"Nursing Standard"},{"issue":"12","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3346\/jkms.2024.39.e123","article-title":"For the universal right to access quality end-of-life care in Korea: broadening our perspective after the 2018 life-sustaining treatment decisions act","volume":"39","author":"Park","year":"2024","journal-title":"Journal of Korean Medical Science"},{"issue":"6","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"316","DOI":"10.1002\/2327-6924.12461","article-title":"Nurse practitioner perceptions of barriers and facilitators in providing health care for deaf American Sign Language users: a qualitative socio-ecological approach","volume":"29","author":"Pendergrass","year":"2017","journal-title":"Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"126","DOI":"10.1093\/deafed\/ent035","article-title":"Inclusion in postsecondary institutions with small numbers of deaf and hard-of-hearing students: highlights and challenges","volume":"19","author":"Powell","year":"2014","journal-title":"Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-22","article-title":"Do we care in the health care?\u2014Well-being of deaf patients","author":"Pribani\u0107","year":"2017"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-23","first-page":"1199","article-title":"Hearing impairment solutions: a comprehensive survey","author":"Pullagura","year":"2024"},{"issue":"4","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0298479","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0298479","article-title":"Health outcomes in deaf signing populations: a systematic review","volume":"19","author":"Rogers","year":"2024","journal-title":"PLOS ONE"},{"issue":"6","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.15446\/rsap.v25n6.109176","article-title":"Experiences of hospital health professionals in the care of deaf patients","volume":"25","author":"Ruiz-Arias","year":"2023","journal-title":"Revista de Salud P\u00fablica"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-26","first-page":"4","article-title":"Barriers to health care for people with hearing loss: a review of the literature","volume":"40","author":"Scheier","year":"2009","journal-title":"Journal of the New York State Nurses Association"},{"issue":"9","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"504","DOI":"10.1002\/2327-6924.12087","article-title":"Deaf adults and health care: giving voice to their stories","volume":"26","author":"Sheppard","year":"2014","journal-title":"Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners"},{"issue":"3","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"260","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1525-1497.2006.00340.x","article-title":"Populations at risk","volume":"21","author":"Steinberg","year":"2006","journal-title":"Journal of General Internal Medicine"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.61440\/JMCNS","article-title":"Personalized and Precision Medicine (PPM) as a unique healthcare model of the next step generation: the role of a nurses and nursing practice in transdisciplinary care team","volume":"1","author":"Suchkov","year":"2024","journal-title":"The Future of Nursing Services"},{"issue":"8","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0002818","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pgph.0002818","article-title":"A scoping review of deaf awareness programs in Health professional education","volume":"4","author":"Terry","year":"2024","journal-title":"PLOS Global Public Health"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"106446","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nedt.2024.106446","article-title":"Nursing students\u2019 knowledge of working with D\/deaf and hard of hearing patients: evaluation of a deaf awareness elearning package","volume":"144","author":"Terry","year":"2025","journal-title":"Nurse Education Today"},{"issue":"4","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"247","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2524.2002.00365.x","article-title":"Inequalities in access to healthcare faced by women who are deaf","volume":"10","author":"Ubido","year":"2002","journal-title":"Health & Social Care in the Community"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dhjo.2014.08.005","article-title":"Nurses\u2019 knowledge, attitudes and behavior toward Deaf patients","volume":"8","author":"Velonaki","year":"2015","journal-title":"Disability and Health Journal"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-34","first-page":"78","article-title":"Deaf space and workplace inclusivity for deaf and hard of hearing employees in Malaysia","author":"Wahat","year":"2023"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e113-e122","DOI":"10.1016\/j.teln.2023.09.017","article-title":"Promoting communication between pediatric nurse practitioner students and patients with language barriers utilizing an innovative simulation scenario","volume":"19","author":"Whited","year":"2024","journal-title":"Teaching and Learning in Nursing"},{"issue":"9","key":"10.7717\/peerj.19446\/ref-36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2841","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pec.2022.05.001","article-title":"Communication methods between physicians and deaf patients: a scoping review","volume":"105","author":"Yet","year":"2022","journal-title":"Patient Education and Counseling"}],"container-title":["PeerJ"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/peerj.com\/articles\/19446.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/peerj.com\/articles\/19446.xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/peerj.com\/articles\/19446.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/peerj.com\/articles\/19446.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,2]],"date-time":"2025-06-02T08:26:16Z","timestamp":1748852776000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/peerj.com\/articles\/19446"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,2]]},"references-count":36,"alternative-id":["10.7717\/peerj.19446"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7717\/peerj.19446","archive":["CLOCKSS","LOCKSS","Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["2167-8359"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2167-8359","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,2]]},"article-number":"e19446"}}