Strategies for Communicating with Deaf Patients in the Public Physical Rehabilitation Unit in the Central South Region of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Abstract

Deaf people face communication difficulties in health units because of the lack of preparedness of health care professionals to deal with these patients. Objective: To identify how physical rehabilitation professionals associated with a regional public unit in the south central region of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil interact with deaf patients. Method: Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 18. Results: Results showed that: 15.1% (5) of the team members did not know the Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) and required help in their interaction with deaf patients; 12.1% (4) never assisted deaf patients; 18.2% (6) used writing and gestures; 21.2% (7) resorted to lip-reading or gestures; 3.1% (1) spoke slowly; 6.1% (2) used mime; 15.1% (5) used the Brazilian Sign Language; 9.1% (3) did not respond. Conclusion: Most of these professionals are not prepared to satisfactorily interact with deaf patients. They use improvised strategies to assist the deaf clientele, demonstrating that the planning and implementation of regular courses in sign language are fundamental in order to assist these patients effectively.