EVALUATION OF EDUCATION IN HEALTH GROUPS FOR PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC DISEASES

The study aimed to characterize health education groups conducted for hypertension and diabetes patients in Campo Mourão, Paraná, Brazil. This is a quantitative study conducted among 121 professionals with ties to the Family Health Strategy. The researchers used a form containing descriptive and evaluation variables, like the holding of groups with the community, issues discussed, professionals participating, suggestions, and issues. The results showed that 70 percent of the units offer health education groups; however, such groups are focused on curative themes. Professionals who were involved most were community health workers and nurses. Although group setup should be changed in order to better promote health education, few professionals recognized the importance of making such changes. It is essential that family health team professionals are trained to realize that the health education process is not limited to the transfer of information, rather that it includes the shared construction of knowledge between the user and the health provider.