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Breaking cultural barriers to health care : the voice of the deaf

This study, in collaboration with the Montreal Deaf Community, used an anthropological perspective to explore the health care experiences of deaf persons and identify the strategies they use to meet their health needs. Narratives were qualitatively analyzed. Deaf persons see their world as separate from the hearing world of health services. The latter is perceived as lacking understanding of deaf persons, leading to their feeling of exclusion and powerlessness. What is supposed to be a source of support becomes one of anxiety. Nevertheless, deaf people show courage and versatility in coping strategies including affiliation and the notion of culture. The health system focus on 'normalization' contradicts deaf persons' perceptions of deafness as a meaningful human reality. The differing values have implications for health professionals and the organization of services. The McGill Model of Nursing offers an organizational framework for planning accessible health services for deaf persons.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.21620
Date January 1999
CreatorsParisé, Nicole.
ContributorsPepler, Carolyn (advisor), Corin, Ellen (advisor)
PublisherMcGill University
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Formatapplication/pdf
CoverageMaster of Science (School of Nursing.)
RightsAll items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
Relationalephsysno: 001651002, proquestno: MQ50852, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest.

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