Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable groups through the gaze of nursing students: an educational project with Photovoice

Introducción: Las nuevas estrategias de enseñanza de los universitarios sugieren la integración de metodologías dinámicas en las que se trabaje activamente su pensamiento crítico. La fotografía reflexiva o Photovoice se ha utilizado en el ámbito educativo con el fin de formar conocimientos sobre la esfera social. Objetivo: desarrollar un proyecto educativo en la que, a través del Photovoice, se promoviera el pensamiento crítico en estudiantes de enfermería. Métodos: Investigación Acción Participativa, concretamente Photovoice. El proyecto educativo se llevó a cabo en tres contextos diferentes: estudiantes de enfermería de la Universidad de León (España), de Alicante (España) y de Southampton (Reino Unido). El tema elegido: el impacto que la pandemia COVID-19 estaba causando en grupos socioeconómicos bajos y minorías étnicas. Los alumnos salieron a la calle y fotografiaron dicho impacto. Cada fotografía la acompañaron de una explicación (narrativa). Posteriormente en el aula se realizó un grupo de discusión, mediante el que analizaron cualitativamente las fotografías/narrativas, estableciendo categorías. Para representar cada categoría, se seleccionaron fotografías. Finalmente se construyó una exposición fotográfica para promover la reflexión en el resto de la comunidad. Resultados: 84 alumnos participaron del proyecto. Las categorías “hambre”, “sin hogar”, “barrios desfavorecidos”, “trabajando en la calle”, “silencio en las calles” y “minorías étnicas” que emergieron de los datos sirvieron como hilo para que los estudiantes reflexionaran sobre el impacto que la pandemia COVID-19 estaba causando en grupos socioeconómicos bajos y minorías étnicas. Conclusiones: Este proyecto educativo mostró cómo, a través de la herramienta del Photovoice, se promovió el pensamiento crítico en estos estudiantes, en tres contextos diferentes. El Photovoice parece ser una herramienta original, simple y económica para promover pensamiento crítico de los universitarios respecto a las dimensiones sociales y culturales de la salud. Algo muy importante dado que ellos son futuros promotores de cambios de salud de la comunidad.Introduction: New teaching strategies for higher education suggest integrating dynamic methodologies. Thus, university students’ critical thinking can be actively worked. Reflective photography or photovoice has been used in the educational field to form knowledge about the social context. Goals: To develop an educational project where critical thinking is promoted in nursing students using photovoice. Methods: Participatory Action Research, specifically photovoice. The educational project was carried out in three different geographical areas: nursing students from the University of León (Spain), Alicante (Spain) and Southampton (United Kingdom). The chosen topic was the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on lower socioeconomic groups and ethnic minorities. The students accessed the community context and photographed this impact. Each photograph was accompanied by an explanation (narrative). Then, a discussion group was conducted in seminars where they analysed the photographs/narratives qualitatively, establishing categories. Photographs were selected to represent each category. Finally, a photographic exhibition was built to promote reflection at the community level. Results: 84 students participated in the project. The categories "hunger", "homeless", "disadvantaged neighbourhoods", "working in the streets", "silence in the streets" and "ethnic minorities" emerged from the data and served as a thread for students to reflect on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on these vulnerable groups. Conclusions: This educational project, which used the photovoice tool, showed how critical thinking was promoted in students across different countries. Photovoice seems to be an original, simple, and inexpensive tool to encourage university students' critical thinking regarding the social and cultural dimensions of health. This is relevant since they are the future promoters of community health changes

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable groups through the gaze of nursing students: an educational project with Photovoice

Número monográfico: Investigação Qualitativa em Saúde: Avanços e Desafios | Investigación Cualitativa en Salud: Avances y Desafíos[ES] Introducción: Las nuevas estrategias de enseñanza de los universitarios sugieren la integración de metodologías dinámicas en las que se trabaje activamente su pensamiento crítico. La fotografía reflexiva o Photovoice se ha utilizado en el ámbito educativo con el fin de formar conocimientos sobre la esfera social. Objetivo: desarrollar un proyecto educativo en la que, a través del Photovoice, se promoviera el pensamiento crítico en estudiantes de enfermería. Métodos: Investigación Acción Participativa, concretamente Photovoice. El proyecto educativo se llevó a cabo en tres contextos diferentes: estudiantes de enfermería de la Universidad de León (España), de Alicante (España) y de Southampton (Reino Unido). El tema elegido: el impacto que la pandemia COVID-19 estaba causando en grupos socioeconómicos bajos y minorías étnicas. Los alumnos salieron a la calle y fotografiaron dicho impacto. Cada fotografía la acompañaron de una explicación (narrativa). Posteriormente en el aula se realizó un grupo de discusión, mediante el que analizaron cualitativamente las fotografías/narrativas, estableciendo categorías. Para representar cada categoría, se seleccionaron fotografías. Finalmente se construyó una exposición fotográfica para promover la reflexión en el resto de la comunidad. Resultados: 84 alumnos participaron del proyecto. Las categorías “hambre”, “sin hogar”, “barrios desfavorecidos”, “trabajando en la calle”, “silencio en las calles” y “minorías étnicas” que emergieron de los datos sirvieron como hilo para que los estudiantes reflexionaran sobre el impacto que la pandemia COVID-19 estaba causando en grupos socioeconómicos bajos y minorías étnicas. Conclusiones: Este proyecto educativo mostró cómo, a través de la herramienta del Photovoice, se promovió el pensamiento crítico en estos estudiantes, en tres contextos diferentes. El Photovoice parece ser una herramienta original, simple y económica para promover pensamiento crítico de los universitarios respecto a las dimensiones sociales y culturales de la salud. Algo muy importante dado que ellos son futuros promotores de cambios de salud de la comunidad.[EN] New teaching strategies for higher education suggest integrating dynamic methodologies. Thus, university students’ critical thinking can be actively worked. Reflective photography or photovoice has been used in the educational field to form knowledge about the social context. Goals: To develop an educational project where critical thinking is promoted in nursing students using photovoice. Methods: Participatory Action Research, specifically photovoice. The educational project was carried out in three different geographical areas: nursing students from the University of León (Spain), Alicante (Spain) and Southampton (United Kingdom). The chosen topic was the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on lower socioeconomic groups and ethnic minorities. The students accessed the community context and photographed this impact. Each photograph was accompanied by an explanation (narrative). Then, a discussion group was conducted in seminars where they analysed the photographs/narratives qualitatively, establishing categories. Photographs were selected to represent each category. Finally, a photographic exhibition was built to promote reflection at the community level. Results: 84 students participated in the project. The categories "hunger", "homeless", "disadvantaged neighbourhoods", "working in the streets", "silence in the streets" and "ethnic minorities" emerged from the data and served as a thread for students to reflect on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on these vulnerable groups. Conclusions: This educational project, which used the photovoice tool, showed how critical thinking was promoted in students across different countries. Photovoice seems to be an original, simple, and inexpensive tool to encourage university students' critical thinking regarding the social and cultural dimensions of health. This is relevant since they are the future promoters of community health changes.S

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health inequities: A photovoice study with nursing students

Introduction:The COVID-19 pandemic has an amplified impact on vulnerable populations. Also, aspects related to health inequalities are insufficiently taught in higher education. This study aims to promote reflection in nursing students on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable populations affected by health inequities.Methodology:A photovoice method was used. Undergraduate nursing students (Spain and United Kingdom) took and explained photographs using SHOWED models.Results:108 students participated. Two-domain summary themes were created: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted ethnic minorities and socioeconomically vulnerable groups, and Proposals to respond to the negative impact on ethnic minorities and socioeconomically vulnerable groups.Discussion:The students identified negative health scenarios by linking COVID-19 with aspects of work, salary, and housing of these two specific populations. Holistic actions were also proposed to protect their health. As future health professionals, they must recognize these communities and work to eliminate inequalities