Educational process of the extended family health center in the care of hypertension and diabetes

Abstract The objective was to evaluate the educational process carried out by the Extended Family Health and Primary Care Center in the care of systemic arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus in Recife, Brazil. An evaluative research was conducted, guided by Paulo Freire’s educational theory, with the elaboration of a theoretical model. Four professionals from the Extended Family Health and Primary Care Center, eleven professionals from the Family Health Strategy and ten patients with hypertension and / or diabetes participated in the study. Focus groups were conducted, and the data collected between November 2018 and February 2019 were submitted to content analysis. The coexistence of use by professionals of banking and problematizing concepts was evidenced. Vertical and little discussed by the professionals practices as well as a curative and medical-centered view in the patients’ statements were identified. There were also transformative actions in the work process of professionals and reports of improvements in the health conditions of patients participating in educational groups. In addition, the incentive to seek rights during educational activities led to the achievement of the implementation of the Academia da Cidade [City Gym] Program in the territory. These findings reveal the transformative power of educational actions when they become participatory and are built based on the experiences and needs of the population.