Level of Awareness and Willingness of Allied Health Students in Basic Filipino Sign Language: Basis for Program Enhancement Plan

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the level of awareness and willingness of allied health students in Basic Filipino Sign Language (FSL) and to examine their relationships and differences based on selected demographic factors, including age, sex, year level, program, and prior FSL background. The results served as the basis for developing an enhanced program plan. Despite the growing Deaf population and official recognition of FSL in the Philippines, its limited inclusion in education and healthcare training contributes to unequal access to quality healthcare. A descriptive, correlational, and comparative research design was employed. Data were collected from 257 allied health students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Bachelor of Science in Midwifery (BSM), and Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) programs using a self-designed and carefully modified questionnaire. Stratified sampling was applied, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rho, and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Findings revealed a moderate level of awareness of basic FSL (median = 3.00), with students recognizing its importance in Deaf communication and healthcare, although gaps were observed in legal knowledge, Deaf culture, and practical application. Willingness to learn FSL was very high (median = 4.00) and did not significantly differ across groups (p > 0.05). Awareness demonstrated a weak negative correlation with age (p = -0.0226, p < 0.001) and significant differences across year level (p = 0.003), program (p < 0.001), and prior FSL background (p = 0.044), with notable differences among selected student groups. The study concluded that allied health students exhibit high willingness to learn and use basic FSL, recognizing its crucial role in effective communication with the Deaf community and promoting inclusive healthcare. Nevertheless, certain aspects of awareness remain limited. Implementation of an enhanced program is recommended to strengthen awareness and further support students’ engagement with basic FSL.