THE IMPORTANCE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATIONAL ACTIONS OF HIPERDIA PROGRAM

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE The Monitoring and Registration Hypertensive and Diabetics System (HIPERDIA) is a Health Ministry program, targeted to hypertensive and/or diabetic patients of Brazil's Unified Public Health System (SUS). The program’s intention is to improve health care access, medication dispensing, these diseases monitoring and controlling, in addition to collecting epidemiological data from the assisted communities. This study aimed to report the Vila Velha (UVV) University medical students’ experience in the HIPERDIA program in Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil. METHOD During the Hiperdia program meeting, conducted by the Family Health team and the medical students, it was carried out the waist/hip ratio, the blood pressure measurements (BP), capillary blood glucose test (CBGT), medical appointment and medication providing. As an education activity, the medical students conducted a lecture about nutritional orientation to the patients and their companions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS It was clear during the activity the patients lack on industrialized food sugar and sodium concentration knowledge, so frequently consumed in their daily routine. From the fifteen assisted patients, two showed BP and CBGT alterations, six only BP alteration, and seven presented normality. In the end, the Family Health team was pleased with the students’ proactivity and performance. After the meeting, the conclusion was that part of the patients, even under regular treatment, still showed BP and CBGT unbalanced. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the meetings’ frequency, more incisively to promote patients’ consciousness and commitment.