Diferentes percepciones de la salud y enfermedad entre profesionales y usuarios de programas de educación sanitaria en hipertensión y diabetes: una visión antropológica

Abstract

Aims Using an etnographic method as information source between clinical patients - professionals, specify possible differences of approaching those types of illnesses quantifying the use of alternative treatments. Material and Method A qualitative study of an ethnographic course, by means of a semi-structured survey, provided to 12 users of HTA and DM (6 & 6) programmes in Primary Health Centres, as well as to 12 professionals responsible for such programmes. Outcomes An interview to 12 patients (6 hypertension ones & 6 diabetics), also to 12 professionals of the same Health Centres. Both hypertension patients and diabetics do associate the origin of their illnesses to their previous life style, associated to certain events which left traces in their personalities. Professionals on their part, find a biological explanation. Conclusion The importance of obtaining data and personal experience by means of the ethnographic method, helps us to understand the real life in which patients live, their believes, their habits, their life styles, their relationship towards their illnesses, their needs, their different ways of thinking and their feelings. The patients' pathologies causes immersed in their programmes, seem to be not extremely coincidental to those of their nursing professionals, or at least, they are not expressed in a similar way. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]