Abstract

RIOS M, Karina et al. Notions and experiences on health promotion and disease prevention by bacteriologists and clinical laboratory technicians graduated in the University of Antioquia in Medellín, Colombia. Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2005, vol.23, n.1, pp.19-31. ISSN 0120-386X.

The new paradigm of the health-disease process includes interdisciplinary activities for promotion, prevention and diagnosis. Traditionally in Colombia, a bacteriologists? education and professional work have been focused on clinical assistance and not towards social change based on their knowledge and work. Objective: to describe some of the experiences of bacteriologists and clinical laboratory technicians graduated in the University of Antioquia who are involved in health promotion and illness prevention activities. Mehodology: a semi-structured interview was carried out with bacteriologists who have been working in the related areas.The results were put in categories and contrasted through focus groups. Some categories were established: 1) notions on promotion and prevention: bacteriologists conceive promotion and prevention as a community empowering, educational exercise, risk factor control, and health marketing, as well as interrelated concepts with almost no boundaries; 2) competences: bacteriologists point out that they require pedagogical, communicative, project leadership and group-work skills, as well as knowledge about public policies, marketing, costing and auditing; 3) methodological strategies: Education and interdisciplinary work are perceived to be the most commonly used strategies with communication being a central axis for these two processes; 4) interdisciplinarity: interdisciplinary group work is required to plan and structure promotion and prevention programs, as well as orienting and eliciting self-determination in the community. Results: information that can contribute to the reflection about the bacteriologists? social meaning is gathered, providing significant elements for the curricula desing of the educational programs in this area.

Keywords : Health promotion; disease prevention; consumer participation; bacteriologists.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )