Health education about non-communicable chronic diseases in family health programs in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

This study reports the experience of systematizing and implementing health education about non-communicable chronic diseases in a Family Health Program team in Belo Horizonte, in Southeastern Brazil. Two groups of eight family health program team professionals were organized. The focal group technique was used at two points: the first moment was used to learn and systematize group education; the second moment was used to evaluate the opinions of family health teams about the educational program co-developed with three professors and five graduate students. Team professionals reported the need to provide structure for the education process, with further organization and planning of teaching and learning activities. They perceived their poor training for work in the education program, and valued the involvement of several professionals in the health promotion and communication process. Systematizing the educational program and training health teams may increase the effectiveness of the Family Health Program (PSF), underlining the multidisciplinary team participation in education health programs.