Conhecimento dos profissionais da atenção primária a saúde sobre o cuidado das pessoas com obesidade

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the prior and further knowledge of health professionals in the State of Tocantins who completed a course on tackling and controlling obesity in the context of Primary Health Care (PHC). Methods: A questionnaire was applied before and after the course to analyze the knowledge of the professionals about caring for individuals with obesity. The sample consisted of 171 PHC professionals from 8 health regions of Tocantins. Results: Only 7.6% of the course participants understood the concept of health promotion at the beginning of the course, which increased to 15.7% after the course. Questions about obesity prevalence, media influence on child nutrition, health promotion, nutritional assessment, physical activity practice, Overweight and Obesity Care Line, and Health Care Network showed a statistically significant difference in the percentage of correct answers after the course. The difference in percentage of correct answers about obesity prevalence, media influence on child nutrition, health promotion, nutritional assessment, physical activity practice, Overweight and Obesity Care Line, and Health Care Network was statistically significant after the course. Conclusion: The course had an impact on knowledge about the care of individuals with obesity. The course enhanced knowledge regarding the care of individuals with obesity.