Abstract
Background
Individuals with disabilities encounter several challenges such as limited educational opportunities, restricted access to academic resources, and delays or shortages of support services. These challenges impede their access to medical services, a critical aspect of their well-being. This study aims to examine the current status of health education by selecting and analyzing health education programs for the visually and hearing impaired using the scoping review method.
Methods
Research questions were organized into population groups, concepts, and contexts following the established guidelines. Data comprised research papers on health education programs for individuals with visual and hearing impairments. Databases searched included Cochrane, Ovid MEDLINE, and Google Scholar for gray literature. The search strategy employed specific keywords and key phrases. Selection criteria focused on literature evaluating the educational impact in intervention studies (experimental and quasi-experimental) of health education programs for visually and hearing impaired individuals, sourced globally. Two independent researchers reviewed Eligible full-text articles and extracted data into a standardized table. The analysis results were summarized using descriptive statistics, including frequency and percentage.
Results
The literature search identified 3,168 articles, 34 of which were selected for analysis. Among these, 19 pertained to the visually impaired, while 15 focused on hearing impaired. Interventions for the visually impaired predominantly addressed acquisition and development, primarily through face-to-face sessions. Healthcare providers predominantly facilitated these interventions, primarily within healthcare institutions. Similarly, interventions for the hearing impaired primarily concentrated on acquisition and development, mainly through face-to-face interactions. The dropout rates averaged approximately 25.7% for the visually impaired and 23% for the hearing impaired. Outcome variables included physical function, psychosocial factors, behavior-related variables, and knowledge-related variables in both cohorts.
Conclusions
This scoping review undertaken in this study presents an exhaustive examination of tailored health education programs for individuals with visual and auditory impairments. The findings provide new insights into the effects of specific intervention types and the challenges faced by individuals with visual and hearing impairments. This underscores the necessity for continuous innovation and research directed toward enhancing health education strategies.