In the dissertation, for the first time, a scientific solution to the problem of the formation of psychologically appropriate professional communication of health care specialists (dentists) with persons with hearing impairments was implemented.
The relevance of the study of the chosen problem is determined by the modern trends of social development, in particular, the need to observe barrier-freeness, which is currently one of the key concepts of the Conception of Sustainable Development (2015) and a general (leading) trend both in the international context and at the national level. Ukraine has joined the global process of ensuring sustainable development, shares the main principles, ideas of the concept of equal access to social, educational and other programs, the realization of human rights, in particular of persons with disabilities.
In the dissertation, based on a holistic theoretical analysis of the problem under investigation, the theoretical foundations of the formation of professional communication of health care specialists with persons with hearing impairments are determined, which make up the provisions of psychology, special psychology, deaf psychology, the basis of professional training of medical workers. The problem of professional communication is considered in the context of the idea of barrier-freeness, which is regulated by the National Strategy for the Creation of a Barrier-free Space in Ukraine (2021), the principles of inclusiveness, universal design, and the biopsychosocial model of determining special needs.
Based on the results of theoretical analysis, the study of practical experience, taking into account the main provisions of the competence approach, the structure of the phenomenon «professional communication of health care specialists» in relation to patients with hearing impairments is determined, which contains three components: cognitive (knowledge of the specifics of the communication needs of persons with impairments hearing, the culture of people with deafness, the basics of sign language, ways of communicating with patients with hearing impairments, necessary adaptations, organizational aspects, peculiarities of working with technical means), motivational and valuable (perception of the values of inclusion, interest in providing quality medical services, the desire to create a barrier-free environment in a medical institution, to ensure accessible communication with patients with hearing impairments; motivation for self-improvement in the profession) and practical (implementation of knowledge in practical professional activities). In the study, more attention is paid to cognitive and motivational-value components, since the respondents are interns who have not yet conducted their own medical practice (practical experience is not enough). According to the components, the criteria, indicators and levels of formation of professional communication of health care specialists are defined: high / psychologically appropriate, sufficient, low; the main barriers in professional communication with persons with hearing impairments (psychological, communicative, cultural) are substantiated.
The essence of the concept of «professional communication of health care specialists with persons with hearing impairments» as a type of professional communication, which involves the exchange of information through verbal and non-verbal messages by «encrypting» / «decrypting» signals with the use of a selected adapted communication channel for the purpose of solving professional tasks, provision of medical services.
The specifics of the communicative needs of persons with hearing impairments are analyzed in the context of the sociocultural approach. Attention is focused on the psychological and sociocultural characteristics of people with hearing impairment; communication channels determined by the state of auditory function, language of communication, technical means of rehabilitation, etc.; particular attention is paid to such phenomena as deaf culture, sign language, etc. On the basis of theoretical analysis, the generalized main ways of communication between a dentist and a patient with hearing impairment are presented, in particular, the peculiarities of communication with children, attention is paid to sign language translation during the provision of medical assistance. The presented aspects (psychological foundations, socio-cultural features) are the basis for designing professional communication of medical workers with persons with hearing impairments.
