Conceptions and practices of professional family health strategy for health education

Abstract

Qualitative research in order to identify the conceptions of health education that guide the practice of professionals working in the Family Health Strategy with families of children/adolescents with chronic disease. Data were collected from August to December 2011, through semi-structured interviews conducted with 21 professionals in two Integrated Family Health Units in João Pessoa-PB. Thematic analysis revealed that some professionals do the essence of health education activities and others do not develop targeted educational practice for this group, not recognizing children/adolescents with chronic illness in their coverage area. We emphasize the need for health professionals to adopt new ways of doing health and guided by dialogic relations that include health education.