Archives of family medicine
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To evaluate whether health habits, self-reported health status, and communication with physicians play a role in the known altered health care utilization patterns of deaf and hard-of-hearing persons. ⋯ Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons report a lower subjective health status and higher physician utilization, as well as substantial communication difficulties with physicians. They also report better health-related behaviors, namely less use of tobacco and alcohol. The use of interpreters did not decrease physician utilization or improve the understanding of physicians by these persons. Overall, our results underscore the fact that deaf and hard-of-hearing persons constitute a minority population that experiences considerable difficulties in the patient-physician relationship.