Rochester Prevention Research Center

University Of Rochester, Rochester NY

Investigators

Abstract

Deaf sign language users and people with hearing loss comprise health disparity populations overlooked by most public health research, surveillance and programs. The mission of the Rochester Prevention Research Center (RPRC) is to promote health and prevent disease with populations of Deaf American Sign Language (ASL) users and people with hearing loss through community-based participatory research (CBPR). These two populations differ in many aspects, including language, culture, and lived experience. Three similarities are risk for health inequities, barriers to healthcare communication, and limited engagement with public health. One RPRC goal is to eliminate health disparities and inequities experienced by populations of Deaf ASL-users and people with hearing loss. RPRC will work to achieve the mission and goal through three overarching aims. Overarching Center Aim: To administer, maintain and grow RPRC to continue to address disparities and inequities, and to reach new populations of Deaf ASL-users and people with hearing loss to promote health. Overarching Research Aim: To conduct one community-engaged dissemination and implementation core research project with Deaf Weight Wise (DWW), an evidence-based intervention shown to improve health, wellness, and social connection among Deaf adult ASL-users. The research is designed to identify the facilitators and barriers to the successful implementation of DWW with diverse partners across the USA, and the approaches and strategies that lead to the successful translation of DWW into a health program available to those who would benefit. Overarching PRC Network Aim: To continue RPRC's active engagement with the PRC Network and program, and to explore additional opportunities to partner with other PRCs to collaboratively adapt their evidence-based interventions to be communication accessible and appropriate for use with people with hearing loss or Deaf ASL-users. This research is responsive to Deaf community priorities in that it focuses on: 1) inequities in access to health promotion programs, 2) implementation and the request that RPRC translate DWW from research into a health program that is available to those who would benefit, and 3) scalability and the request that the benefits of RPRC research extend to Deaf communities outside of Western/Central NYS. This proposal is responsive to the NOFO with our emphasis on health and wellness of older adults (category #1), with RPRC's specific focus on underserved subpopulations of older adults who are Deaf ASL-users. RPRC accomplishments at the end of this funding period will include: enhanced capacity for CBPR with communities of Deaf ASL-users and people with hearing loss; data to inform implementation strategies and scale to connect DWW programs with Deaf communities; expanded RPRC reach, with stronger and new partnerships with Deaf communities and other implementation partners outside of Western/Central NYS; communications and products, in English and American Sign Language, to inform communities, researchers, the PRC Network, and other stakeholders of RPRC methods, results, programs, and services.