title: Role-reversal exercise with Deaf Strong Hospital to teach communication competency and cultural awareness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To implement a role-reversal exercise to increase first-year pharmacy students' awareness of communication barriers in the health care setting, especially for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Volunteers from the local deaf community conducted Deaf Strong Hospital, a role-reversal exercise in which students were the "patients." Students navigated through a reception area, encounter with a physician, and having a prescription filled at a pharmacy without receiving or using any spoken language.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A debriefing session was held in which small groups of students had the opportunity to ask questions of a panel of deaf and hard-of-hearing volunteers. On a survey administered to assess students' learning, 97% agreed or strongly agreed that the experience would likely impact their attitudes and behavior in future interactions with patients who did not speak English.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role-reversal exercise was an effective method of teaching students that the delivery of health care is dependent on adequate communication between health care providers and the patient.
authors.affiliation: Wegmans School of Pharmacy, St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY 14618, USA. jmathews@sjfc.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Parkhill
authors.forename: Deirdre A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Schlehofer
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Starr
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barnett
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003144:Communication Barriers; D054521:Cultural Competency; D003638:Deafness; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012381:Role Playing; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology*