Communication between healthcare professionals and
patients is essential for getting the right treatment and full recovery.
However, the deaf community find difficulties worldwide as they need to
communicate basically through sign language, in which most of these professionals have no or few knowledge. This study
aimed at reporting the experience of nursing students in the development of
cellphones apps designed to help deaf people during health attendance.
This strategy intends to encourage students to experience the point of view of
the deaf patient during the attendance in a playful and dynamic way,
considering the importance of the language inclusion of the deaf in the health
system. The study was developed by first year nursing students enrolled at a
Federal University in the Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The group consisted of
9 students, divided in 3 groups, who developed applications to be used during
nursing care of deaf people. Each software-design-group had pre-selected
phrases important to the amnesics process according to their point of view.
After this stage, the students have elected the healthcare terminology using
the Brazilian sign language—Libras, and recorded videos
as a proposition to improve the communication between nurses and deaf patients.
Considering that no student had previous knowledge of the Libras prior to this
event, the activity promoted a practical learning on how to use this
translating material as well as on free apps development. This
educational strategy also contributed to the professional development of such
students, since it made them critically think about inclusion of minorities
such as deaf people whereas preparing them to provide better healthcare to their future deaf patients.
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