Behavior of variables associated with the control of chronic diseases in patients receiving health education

The high prevalence of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes in Mexico are indicators of the need for action by health professionals. Educational intervention by health personnel helps to reduce morbidity and mortality from chronic degenerative diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of variables associated with the control of chronic diseases in patients receiving health education by comparing them before and after the educational intervention to improve them. The sample consisted of 11 Mexican outpatients who attended the Polyclinic of Integral Pharmaceutical Care. The patient's educational needs were identified by means of a semi-structured interview and a test of knowledge about the disease and the treatment, and the degree of adherence to treatment was determined using the Morisky-Green test. An educational program was designed based on the identified educational needs, adapted to the age of the patients, with activities based on participatory methods and techniques and taking into account the theoretical model of personal development and social skills, as well as the transtheoretical model of behavior. Qualitative variables such as knowledge, attitude and behavior and clinical variables were evaluated before the educational intervention, 6 and 12 months after the intervention. The results demonstrated that educational interventions based on theoretical models and using participatory methods and techniques have an impact on therapeutic adherence and control of arterial hypertension, diabetes and bronchial asthma and can therefore be of great value in the prevention of complications associated with these chronic diseases.