Program
Physician Assistant M.S.
Year Approved
2015
First Advisor
Dahl, Diane
Abstract
Currently, there has been insufficient research to support the need for implementation of deaf awareness training into physician assistant (PA) program curriculums. To address this gap in research, PA students in the Midwest United States were surveyed in order to assess student knowledge of Deaf culture and knowledge regarding appropriate management of patients who are deaf. Survey knowledge scores were compared to previously documented knowledge scores of medical students enrolled in the Medical Students, Cancer Control, and the Deaf Community Training (DCT) program at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). PA student scores were also compared to scores of USCD medical students who did not participate in the DCT program. The results of the study revealed that PA students in the Midwest scored significantly lower than medical students who were enrolled in the DCT program. However, PA students scored significantly higher than medical students who did not participate in the DCT program. The results of this study suggest that incorporation of deaf awareness training into PA programs could be beneficial for PA students. Deaf awareness training can help prepare PA students for communication challenges faced by medical professionals who work with patients who are deaf. Successful communication promotes the formation of stronger patient-provider relationships, which can help address the healthcare disparity that exists for patients who are deaf.
Degree Name
Masters of Science in Physician Assistant
Document Type
Masterʼs thesis
Recommended Citation
Delude, S. E., & Foizie, M. K. (2015). Assessing Deaf Culture Awareness of Physician Assistant Students in the Midwest [Masterʼs thesis, Bethel University]. Spark Repository. https://spark.bethel.edu/etd/162
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