Bringing breast cancer education to deaf women.

Abstract

The Deaf community has not been adequately served by mainstream public health interventions. A breast cancer education program adapted for the needs of the Deaf community was evaluated by 123 deaf and hard-of-hearing women using pre- and post-surveys and focus groups. Among the findings were the difficulty of recruiting Deaf community members to education and research programs; low adherence to breast cancer screening guidelines; insufficient breast-health knowledge; endorsement of the program; and suggestions for strengthening it. Deaf women will benefit from breast cancer education programs that specifically address their language, culture, and preferred learning styles.