Health education and methodological devices applied in the care of Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

The objective of this study is to identify the methodological devices to promote behavioral change to the users of health services with Diabetes mellitus (DM) referred by doctors and nurses. A quantitative and cross-sectional study with 138 professionals from the Family Health Strategy (ESF) of a municipality in the northeast. For the data collection, we used a form containing the variables related to the characterization of the participants and to the methodological devices as proposed in the Model of Attention to the Chronic Condition. Most of the participants mentioned implementing health education activities, with the most mentioned topics being: healthy eating and physical exercise. Regarding the use of approaches to behavior change, the most mentioned was the motivational interview, followed by the Transtheoric Model of Change (MTT). Most participants reported that the MTT approach has applicability. The use of methodological devices for behavioral changes is still little used in the FHT despite the recognition of its applicability.