A educação em saúde como aliada no tratamento do diabetes: elaboração de material educativo para o automanejo

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic syndrome that affects approximately 537 million adults and elderly people worldwide. It is estimated that by 2045 this number will grow to 783 million. In this context, Health Education focused on the characteristics of Diabetes becomes an important ally in the process of treating people who already have the disease and in preventing those who may acquire the syndrome. Objective: The main objective of the study is to foster a theoretical basis for developing Health Education material to be used as a health promotion strategy among patients treated within the scope of the university extension service offered by the Center for Research and Technological Innovation in Human Rehabilitation (INOVAFISIO), linked to the Department of Physiotherapy at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC). As a specific objective, we sought to investigate the current scenario of the relationship between Health Education and Physiotherapy in the treatment of type II Diabetes Mellitus. Methodology: This is an exploratory review of literature of a qualitative nature. The research took place during the months of August to September 2023 and involved a non-systematic exploratory search in the literature, covering databases, specialized websites of associations, repositories of theses and dissertations, as well as scientific publications from different sources, including universities and centers of research. The search terms used combined "Diabetes" and "Diabetes Mellitus'' with at least one of the following terms: "Health Education'', "Technological Innovation", "Support Material" and "Booklet", in English and Portuguese. Results: The studies highlighted the importance of Health Education for adult and elderly patients with type II Diabetes Mellitus. Topics such as: nutrition, physical activity, blood glucose monitoring, medications, foot care and smoking were covered. There were some limitations to the study, such as: the significant difficulty in searching for validated, high-quality materials to serve as a basis for developing educational propositions. Furthermore, the lack of consensus and the variety of information sources contributed to the complexity of the selection process. Conclusion: It is concluded that continuous education is necessary over time, with patients highlighting the importance of updating their knowledge about Diabetes. Self-efficacy proved to be crucial, as belief in the ability to control the disease influenced positive results.