The Effectiveness of Health Education in Improving Knowledge about Hypoglycemia and Insulin Pen Use among Outpatients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at a Primary Care Hospital in Vietnam

Background. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who have limited knowledge about hypoglycemia and insulin pen use are likely to have hypoglycemia and other complications. Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of health education on knowledge about hypoglycemia and insulin pen use among outpatients with T2DM at a primary care hospital in Vietnam. Methods. A pretest–posttest study was conducted among 80 patients with T2DM at District 11 Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. At baseline, patients were interviewed through a predefined, structural questionnaire to assess their knowledge about hypoglycemia and insulin pen use. After that, patients underwent an individual health education session about hypoglycemia and insulin pen. One month and two months after this intervention, knowledge about hypoglycemia and insulin pen use were recorded again. Results. The majority were males (65.0%) and the mean age was 59.6 (standard deviation 8.1, range 35-75) years. Very few patients had good knowledge and proper insulin pen use, with percentages ranging from 13.8% to 60%. There was a significant improvement of knowledge and practice after the intervention. Such improvement remained high one month and two months after the intervention. Conclusions. The health education intervention is effective in improving knowledge and practice in this population. There is a pressing need for such intervention at primary care hospitals to optimize treatment for patients with T2DM, possibly focusing on those who had characteristics to have the best effectiveness found in this study.

https://ijbpsa.com/content/health-education-service-facilities-upazilla-health-complexes

Health education can play important role in increasing a community’s economy by reducing health care spending and improving productivity which is otherwise lost by preventable illness. A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in the selected four Upazilla Health Complexes (UHCs) from January to December 2019 to assess the health education service facilities at UHCs. A total of 164 health education providers and 220 health education receivers were taken conveniently as sample. Data were collected by using pre tested semi-structured questionnaire with face to face interview. From the health educators’ perspective 29% of the respondents belonged to the age group of 24-29 years, mean age of the health educators were 36±8.62 years. About 85% got training on health education, (97%) gave health education to patients. About 51% health educators’ opinion was they had not fixed place/room for health education. All of the health educators (164) opinion poster and leaflet they used as teaching aids, 154 convey their health education through lecture method. From the health education receivers perspective mean age of the health educators were 36±13.36 years, about 83% health education receivers know which heath education services are available in UHC. Here, 37% health education receivers faced problems during health education session, 13% mentioned sitting problem, 9% stated health education time was limited. Highest (54%) respondents were satisfied regarding cooperation of health education providers. The findings highlight the need to implement policies that focus on promotion of health education service facilities in the UHCs.

Interactive pedagogical strategies in Health Education: "Think-Pairs-Share" and Collective Construction

Introduction: Health Education in Sexual and Reproductive Health, appear in the practice of nursing students, as a form of health promotion in young people. The development of these skills is essential during nursing degree. Aims: As part of preparation of clinical practice, in Primary Health Care, a seminar was held - Dating without Risks-, with the purpose of promoting knowledge on Sexual and Reproductive Health, developing active health education strategies and promoting reflection on sexuality in young people. Methodology: We used pedagogical strategies, transferable to a Health Education session: Think-Pairs-Share; Fill in with post-it and Collective Construction. We asked about the importance of Health Education and the approach to sexuality in young people, risk behaviours in dating and a collective construction of an "Affections Alphabet". Results: The seminar exceeded the student’s expectations. The strategies used appear to be easily transferable to Health Education sessions in clinical practice context, providing more interaction between the group, promoting greater openness in approaching the theme.

Effect of Health Education Video on Knowledge about among Women in Childbearing Age

Background: Toddlers aged 24-59 months are experiencing a very rapid growth process; however, they are also prone to have nutritional problems, including stunting. Stunting occurs mainly within the first 2 to 5 years of life. The main cause is a lack of knowledge on toddler’s nutritional intake among women of childbearing age. This study aimed to explore the effect of health education using video media on the knowledge about stunting among women of childbearing age.Methods: This was a quantitative, experimental study with one group pretest-posttest design conducted in July-November 2019 on women of childbearing age in the working area of Public Health Center (Pusat Kesehatan Masyarakat, Puskesmas) Jatinangor, West Java, Indonesia. Respondents were recruited using the Multistage Random Sampling according to the inclusion criteria. A pre-test was administered before the health education session on stunting and a post-test was administered afterwards. Data collected were then analyzed using the Wilcoxon Test.Results: In total, 211 women were included. Education video on stunting was proved to significantly increase the respondent's knowledge on stunting (p=0.000, r value=0.690).Conclusion: Health education video clearly increases knowledge on stunting among women of childbearing age. Thus, video medium can be used as a preferred method for disseminating knowledge on various health topics.

Environmental Awareness for Patients with COPD Undergoing Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Is It of Added Value?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is impacted by exposure to environmental contaminants. Improving health literacy on this topic might help to optimize health outcomes. We aimed to design and deliver a health-education session about the impact of environmental contaminants on respiratory symptoms and explore participants’ perceptions on such session. Patients with COPD were recruited from a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program. Two focus groups were first conducted to explore knowledge amongst the group. Then, the session was designed and delivered, and three focus groups were conducted to obtain feedback from participants. Data were analyzed thematically by two independent researchers. Thirty-one patients (71 ± 8 years old, FEV1 = 47.6 ± 16.8% predicted; 74.2% male) were included. Prior to the session, participants recognized the importance of this topic and described avoidance strategies to deal with symptom triggering due to air pollution. After the session, participants had their knowledge validated, kept some avoidance strategies, but also adapted some “unavoidable” activities of daily living. Patients with COPD value education on this topic, and PR offers a friendly environment to discuss prevention and management strategies. Contents of the session are provided to help deliver these sessions. Future studies could investigate the effectiveness of this intervention on self-management and exacerbations of COPD.

The effectiveness of schistosomiasis health education session in primary and secondary schools in Pemba Island, Zanzibar

Background: Schistosomiasis seriously endangers the health of African people, hinders local economic and social development, and becomes a serious local public health problem. However, in addition to preventive chemotherapy, other social, environmental and health promotion measures are progressing slowly, lack of sanitation, treated water, and systematic health education, the people are still at risk of infection. In 2011, a survey of 24 school in Zanzibar showed that the average infection rate of Schistosoma haematobium was 8% (0-38%) in Unguja, and was 15% (1-43%) in Pemba. Methods: According to the shape of the island, the island is divided into three regions: the south, the middle, and the north. A Shehia in the southern, central and northern parts of Pemba Island was randomly selected respectively, the schistosomiasis health education session was conducted in primary and secondary schools of the selected Shehias. The students were randomly selected for schistosomiasis cognitive level test by designed questionnaire including 8 knowledge questions and 4 behavior questions before and after health education, through a chi-square test of the awareness rate and the correct behavior rate of schistosomiasis before and after the health education, the effect of health education session was evaluated. Result: A total 712 students were sampled before and after the health education in 8 schools. Before the health education session, the awareness rates of schistosomiasis were 64.62% and 68.75% among primary and secondary school respectively. After the session, the awareness rates increased to 79.74% and 84.70% respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=179.3, P<0.0001). Before the sessions, the correct behavior rates were 63.96% and 54.79% among boys and girls. After the sessions, the correct behavior rates increased to 82.83% and 76.58%, and the difference was also statistically significant (χ2=143.8, P<0.0001). Conclusion: The awareness rate and correct behavior rate of schistosomiasis were low in Pemba Island, Zanzibar, hence the schistosomiasis health education needs to be strengthened. The schistosomiasis health education session has an obvious effect on the improvement of cognitive level of schistosomiasis among local students. This method can be promoted and implemented in local schools with the effort of local health and education departments.

Impact of health education in improving awareness about Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in health care professionals of tertiary healthcare centre in India

Background: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major pathogen causing morbidity and mortality in hospital setup. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) colonized by MRSA, play a key role in transmission of this organism to the patients. Compliance of the HCPs with sanitary guidelines is fundamental to prevent nosocomial Infections. Hence, imparting education and creating awareness is the first step towards this. The aim of this study was to determine baseline knowledge about MRSA in healthcare professionals (HCPs). The further aim of the study was to assess the impact of health education on HCPs.Methods: A total of 104 participants, including 54 nurses and 50 doctors, were surveyed using pre-validated questionnaire, regarding MRSA colonization, modes of transmission, high risk areas in hospital, isolation policy, disinfection and treatment. The survey was followed by a health education session on MRSA. Thereafter a post-test questionnaire was administered to study the impact of the health education session.Results: The study sample of 104 respondents comprised of 50 doctors (48%) and 54 nurses (52%). It was found that baseline awareness regarding MRSA was lesser in the nursing staff as compared to doctors. Statistically significant positive impact of the health education session on all the HCPs was observed when paired t-test was applied. Various challenges expressed by the participants in prevention of MRSA transmission were noted.Conclusions: Due to suboptimal awareness noted in HCPs, educational programs should be conducted to bridge the gap in knowledge and perception of HCPs to prevent spread of MRSA.

Investigating the Enduring Impact of a Community-Based Health Education Program to Promote African American Elders’ Use of Technology Designed to Support Chronic Disease Self-Management

Elders experience chronic disease disparities and barriers to access technology designed to support recommended self-management behaviors. Elders from racial minority groups are among those who experience particular disparities in chronic disease incidence, outcomes, and barriers to technology use. In order to investigate strategies to address barriers, the study team recruited elder African Americans with diabetes and young adults connected to the elders through naturally occurring familial or social networks. Participants attended a community-based health education session focused on enhancing self-efficacy for recommended self-management and using consumer-oriented technology accessible on their smartphones for self-management support. To assess enduring impact, the study team conducted a pilot study to investigate perceptions and use one month following the health education session. Both elders and young adults offered perspectives on what was effective in teaching elders how to use technology. Both age groups stressed that having patience was crucial, as is providing encouragement for the elders to try tasks on their own. Both elders and young adults also showed a statistically significant increase in aspirations to work together for additional intergenerational health and technology knowledge exchange. Several elder participants continued using technology that they first used during the session. This novel, pilot study describes how to promote self-management and technology use for individuals plagued by persistent chronic disease and technology use disparities.