Experience in Primary Health Care and education in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The main tool used is the education given to each member of the Primary Health Care team through face-to-face and on-line courses. Knowledge and skills are objectively evaluated in a partial and final way, promoting academic integrity and access to higher level educational environments. Among the interventions to be evaluated, the early identification of people with prediabetes and diabetes provides a better quality of care, with systematic records of clinical and metabolic parameters of patients (QUALIDIAD registry). The courses given were structured with evaluation of knowledge, skills and attitudes. Physicians and nurses were trained at the National University of La Plata, while nutritionists, obstetricians and healthcare agents were trained at the National University of the Northeast.

The Project proposes to use a before-after design on the quality of care of people with diabetes or at increased risk of developing this condition 6 and 12 months after its implementation in Primary Care Centers belonging to Salta, San Juan and Tandil City. It includes adults ≥18 years old with a diagnosis of diabetes or at high risk of developing diabetes, with exclusive public coverage and who give their consent to participate in the study. Innovative strategies were incorporated, such as sending SMS messages with educational content on diabetes, an appointment scheduling system integrated with reminder messages to optimize attendance and achieve clinical follow-up. Also, training workshops designed with activities for the subject and his/her environment, taking into account each city with its particularities. Some actions developed were FINDRISC test, live cooking, varied games kits, sowing and harvesting in the garden, physical exercise routines, among others. This work shows an urgent need to identify innovative strategies for the health team and subjects offering effective interventions for the prevention and treatment of diabetes.