Abstract

ARAUZ HERNANDEZ, Ana Gladys et al. Assessment of an educational program in diabetes for the primary care level . Rev. costarric. salud pública [online]. 2008, vol.17, n.32, pp.10-16. ISSN 1409-1429.

Aim: To develop and evaluate a multi-professional educational program on diabetes mellitus, based on local conditions for the primary level of health attention (EBAIS), Methodology: An active-participative course of 35 hours (70% practice, 30% theory) was developed in three Costa Rican geographical areas. Topics were taken from the felt needs of the health providers and patients (previous study), also from the duties specified for the primary level. Evaluation was based on the increase of both theory (knowledge) and practice (skills). Results: Participants were 177 health workers from 44 EBAIS (31% ATAP, 26, 6% physicians and, 22,6% nurse assistants).The assessment showed that participants obtained excellent grades in the practical area, although the score of the urban zone of the Central Valley, was inferior. In the written test (knowledge), the final general score increased significantly in all disciplines and geographic areas. By discipline, knowledge increased in almost all themes. The multiple comparison test (ANOVA) showed some differences in the knowledge change in several themes and disciplines. Conclusions: This course based on a the multiprofessional methodology was appropriate to increase both knowledge and skill of professionals, technicians and administrative health workers from the primary level of health attention. The test organization by thematic areas, allowed the evaluation of every theme among the different disciplines. Diabetes education using this methodology on the site of work improved the primary health attention teams.

Keywords : diabetes education; primary health attention; multi-professional education.

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