Sign Language in Brazilian Pharmacy Education

Abstract

<b>Objective.</b> To evaluate undergraduate pharmacy curricula at Federal Institutions of Higher Education in Brazil in order to identify sign language courses and other content related to the provision of care to deaf patients. <b>Methods.</b> A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted between March and June 2017. Data were collected from the websites of undergraduate pharmacy education programs in Brazil. Sign language courses were classified according to type (mandatory or elective), nature (theoretical or theoretical-practical), course period and workload. The course contents were extracted and analyzed by content analysis. <b>Results.</b> Of the 35 schools of pharmacy included in the study, 18 (51.4%) included a sign language course in their curriculum. Eighteen (100%) of the sign language courses were elective, one (5.6%) was theorical-practical, 16 (89.0%) did not have a predetermined point in the curriculum for students to complete the course, and 11 (61.1%) had a workload equal to or greater than 60 hours. The main pedagogical content identified related to the teaching and learning of sign language. <b>Conclusion.</b> Learning sign language in undergraduate pharmacy is important for these professionals could provide humanistic and integral care to deaf patients. Therefore, there is considerable room for improvement in teaching sign language to undergraduate pharmacy students in Brazil.