Validation of a documentary on Chagas disease by a population living in an endemic area

Abstract Educational interventions may trigger actions that contribute to prevent parasitic diseases, such as Chagas disease (CD). This study aimed at investigating the impact of an instructional video named “Documentary on Chagas Disease” on knowledge about CD and its vectors displayed by a population that lives in an endemic area in Brazil, so as to validate it as an educational tool. The video was shown to 226 subjects, divided into two groups. Group 1 was composed of users of Basic Health Units (BHU) in Pelotas and Pinheiro Machado, cities located in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil, where CD is endemic. Group 2 consisted of students who attend three public schools located in the rural area in Pinheiro Machado, RS. Two questionnaires with questions about their knowledge about triatomines and CD were applied, before and after the documentary was shown. After the video was shown, there was significant increase in individuals’ knowledge (in both groups) about “kissing bugs”, their notification, the disease and its prevention. Besides, watchers considered that the quality of the material was satisfactory. Since the “Documentary on CD” can be easily accessed on the internet and was effective in teaching the population that lives in endemic areas, its use should be encouraged in places and meetings connected to health that aim at fighting against triatominae and at exposing an updated view of CD.

摘要：教育干预措施可催生有助于预防寄生虫病（如恰加斯病，Chagas Disease，简称CD）的相关行动。本研究旨在评估一部名为《恰加斯病纪实》（Documentary on Chagas Disease）的教学视频，对巴西某流行区居民关于恰加斯病及其传播媒介的认知水平的影响，以验证其作为教育工具的有效性。该视频面向226名受试者播放，受试者被分为两组。第一组为巴西南里奥格兰德州（Rio Grande do Sul，RS）佩洛塔斯市与皮涅鲁马查杜市的基础卫生所（Basic Health Units，BHU）就诊人群，该区域为恰加斯病流行区。第二组为南里奥格兰德州皮涅鲁马查杜市农村地区三所公立学校的学生。研究人员分别在播放该纪实视频前后，向受试者发放两份包含锥蝽（triatomines）与恰加斯病相关知识问题的问卷。播放视频后，两组受试者关于‘接吻虫’（即锥蝽）、其上报流程、该病及其预防措施的认知水平均有显著提升。此外，受试者均认为该视频素材的质量令人满意。鉴于《恰加斯病纪实》可通过互联网便捷获取，且能有效提升流行区居民的认知水平，因此应鼓励在与防控锥蝽、普及恰加斯病最新认知相关的卫生场所及活动中推广使用该视频。