title: [Qualitative survey of deaf patients concerning perception of their management by general practitioners].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Doctor-patient communication issues affect general practice consultations of deaf patients. The purpose of this study was to obtain the opinions of deaf patients on the care provided by general practitioners and their expectations in order to suggest possible improvements.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative research based on semi-structured interviews with ten deaf patients who use sign language and who mostly consult private general practitioners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Difficulties were encountered to establish a good quality dialogue between deaf patients and general practitioners. Limited exchanges prevent patients and practitioners from creating a relationship based on trust, without bringing the physicians' skills into question. Problems tended to wane over time and depend on the practitioner's awareness of deaf issues. Deaf patients want to receive care in their own language by means of sign language interpreters or by consulting practitioners who use sign language in a Deaf Patient Reception and Care Unit. They also expect their GP to be able to devote more time to them and to more clearly understand the characteristics of their disability in order to improve their health care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although general practitioners' skills are not called into question, the doctor-patient relationship is impaired by communication issues, which have a negative impact on deaf patients' care. This could be improved by strengthening deaf patients' information via public health campaigns, by creating a specific fee in the French medical fee classification related to medical procedures on patients with a sensory disability and by developing tools to facilitate medical consultation.
authors.forename: Violaine
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mauffrey
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hartemann
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bouillevaux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012813:Sign Language