An Examination of Online Health Information Seeking by Deaf People

Research indicates that information seekers often turn to the Internet for health information; however, little is known about how Deaf people perceive, access, and utilize the Internet as a health information source. In this study, eight focus groups with Deaf participants (n = 39) were conducted to explore how Deaf people make use of (or avoid) the Internet as a health information source. Focus-group transcripts were analyzed using latent content and constant comparative techniques. Findings are presented using the model of online health information seeking and illustrate the reasons reported for both avoiding and utilizing the Internet as a health information source. In addition, findings illustrate the processes Deaf people navigate when accessing online health information, as well as the strategies they employ when doing so. This research underscores the need for continued investigation of access to and use of e-health resources by Deaf people.