A Survey on Communication between Pharmacists and d/Deaf Individuals

Pharmacy Practice

  • Neeranun Weerapol1Department of Pharmacy, Sawaengha Hospital, Ang Thong, 14150, Thailand; Division of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Burapha University, Chonburi, 20131, Thailand.
  • Nattawut Leelakanok2Division of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Burapha University, Chonburi, 20131, Thailand; Drug System Monitoring and Development Center, Social Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.

Volume 24 Issue 3 Pages 1-17

DOI: 10.18549/PharmPract.2026.3.3656

Abstract

Background: People who are deaf have profound hearing loss but may not communicate using sign language. However, Deaf people use sign language as a primary language. International data show that health messages are generally communicated via methods other than using sign language or sign language interpreters. In addition, many countries, including Thailand, have no specialized healthcare facilities for people who are d/Deaf. Therefore, d/Deaf people receive healthcare from pharmacists who usually lack understanding of the specific needs of the d/Deaf patients. Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence of Thai pharmacists who have provided medication counseling for d/Deaf people. We also aimed to explore how pharmacists communicate with d/Deaf people during medication counseling and what pharmacists perceived as communication barriers. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional observational methodology. Data on preferred modes of communication, communication barriers, and prevalence of counseling with d/Deaf people were collected from hospital and community pharmacists in Thailand using an online survey. Open Epi online version 3.01 was used for sample size calculation, and the estimated sample size was 245 pharmacists. A survey advertisement was posted in online pharmacist communities; thus, convenience sampling was used. Participants were recruited and surveyed online. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: From 259 participants, 58.3% of Thai pharmacists have communicated with d/Deaf people. The encounter frequency was approximately once a month. Communication was generally via writing and gesturing. Only 6.1% of Thai pharmacists could use sign language. We also found several communication barriers, including pharmacists lacking training in Deaf culture and basic sign language, pharmacists having limited access to d/Deaf-specific communication aids and services, and d/Deaf people having insufficient Thai literacy for fluent communication. Conclusion: Some Thai pharmacists have provided services to d/Deaf people. However, they were not trained and well-equipped for the service. Increasing TSL translator training and registration, training Thai pharmacists in Deaf culture and basic sign language, and improving d/Deaf people’s Thai reading and writing literacy should be promoted to minimize communication barriers between pharmacists and d/Deaf people.

Keywords

  • persons with hearing disabilities
  • pharmacists
  • surveys and questionnaires
Pharmacy Practice

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