Technologies for maternal self-efficacy in preventing childhood diarrhea: A clinical trial

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effects of two educational technologies, video and booklet, associated with Motivational Interviewing to promote maternal self-efficacy in preventing childhood diarrhea. Methods: A clinical trial conducted with 122 mothers of children under 5 years old; mothers were randomly randomized into two groups: educational video (“Child’s diarrhea: you are able to prevent it”) combined with Brief Motivational Interviewing or booklet (“You are able to prevent diarrhea in your child!”) combined with Brief Motivational Interviewing. Data collection took place in the first contact with the mothers at the Primary Health Care unit; the Maternal Self-Efficacy Scale for preventing childhood diarrhea and a sociodemographic form were applied. The second and third moments of data collection occurred through telephone, after one and two months, respectively, using the scale and a form for investigating diarrhea. Results: It was found that one month after the interventions, most of the participants in both groups were considered to have high self-efficacy in preventing childhood diarrhea, with 78.4% of mothers in the video and Motivational Interviewing group; 83.0% in the booklet and Motivational Interviewing group. Two months after the interventions, mean maternal self-efficacy scores increased and decreased in cases of childhood diarrhea in both groups. Conclusion: It has been proved that these educational technologies, combined with Brief Motivational Interviewing, increased self-efficacy to prevent childhood diarrhea. Therefore, they can be used by nurses working at Primary Health Care as an educational tool.