The primary aim of this proposed study is to explore the use of video-based computer technology utilizing American Sign Language (ASL) to educate individuals with profound hearing losses about currently accepted recommendations regarding preventive medicine (i.e., cancer). A total of 400 individuals will be included in the study, 200 of who will undergo the intervention and 200 of who will serve as a comparison group. All participants will complete a pre-intervention questionnaire on computers that will provide demographic as well as baseline prevention knowledge. The intervention group then will go on to complete a focused, interactive, ASL-based computer program that teaches them about current cancer preventative recommendations, whereas the comparison group will be given the existing, English-based computer program. Both groups will be followed for six months to determine changes in prevention recommendation knowledge as well as persistence over time. The anticipated outcome of the project is that this ASL-based program will show a significant improvement in the knowledge base and understanding of this population regarding current prevention recommendations. If so, two outcomes will result. First, dissemination of the program across the country will be done by the use of CDs. Second, further study will be done to determine if changes in knowledge translates into improvement in adhering to the recommendations.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Education Projects (R25)
Project #
5R25DC004604-02
Application #
6379580
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-SSS-D (02))
Program Officer
Donahue, Amy
Project Start
2000-09-01
Project End
2003-08-31
Budget Start
2001-09-01
Budget End
2002-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$107,514
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Family Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
791277940
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Zazove, Philip; Meador, Helen E; Reed, Barbara D et al. (2012) Effectiveness of videos improving cancer prevention knowledge in people with profound hearing loss. J Cancer Educ 27:327-37
Zazove, Philip; Meador, Helen E; Reed, Barbara D et al. (2009) Cancer prevention knowledge of people with profound hearing loss. J Gen Intern Med 24:320-6
Meador, Helen E; Zazove, Philip (2005) Health care interactions with deaf culture. J Am Board Fam Pract 18:218-22
Zazove, Philip; Meador, Helen E; Derry, Holly A et al. (2004) Deaf persons and computer use. Am Ann Deaf 148:376-84