Participatory evaluation of a noncommunicable chronic disease prevention and treatment program

ABSTRACT This work concerns the evaluation of a program for the prevention and treatment of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) offered to the community assisted by a public university by means of its outpatient health facility. The evaluation process sought to apprehend the dynamics and to understand the form of interaction between the actors involved in the daily routine of the Program grounded on the understanding of its interest groups, composed of staff, users, managers and referral professionals. A qualitative, participatory and formative research was conducted to broaden the Program possibilities of improvement by the stakeholders based on elements derived from their experience. Guba’ and Lincoln’ Fourth Generation Evaluation and Paideia’ Method of Campos guided the research methodology. The empirical material analysis was grouped into three thematic clusters: working method, team, and program management. It was revealed that a reflective listening by professionals is a deciding factor to extend the autonomy of users and their therapeutic adherence; that the gathering of educational groups in the work premises favored the participation of users and their capture for treatment, especially as for males; and that the group meetings allow for various objective and subjective gains, such as social interaction among people from different areas of the University.