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The Puerto Rico Department of Health, Division of Preventive Medicine, Diabetes Section, proposed to establish an innovative diabetes project to reduce the impact of diabetes on the island of Puerto Rico. This project used the government’s television station and the university of Puerto Rico to produce educational segments for local television airing.
In 2004, the health department in Puerto Rico began planning its diabetes educational campaign as part of the federally-funded Diabetes Prevention and Control Programs (DPCP). In Puerto Rico, the DPCP works in close relationship with many local resources and organizations, such as local health disparities centers, faith-based organizations, health insurance companies and community-based organizations including the
Through their years of community service, the DPCP staff saw the need for a “local product with local flavor” that could be a major part of their diabetes education training sessions held in the community. Most of these sessions are “train-the-trainer” events conducted by the DCPC 5-member team of a coordinator, nurse, nutritionist, epidemiologist/evaluator and a secretary; however, this team felt the need for a new resource. This resource should reflect Puerto Rican people in their communities—real people who live with and have diabetes—to make a significant impact.
With a very limited budget, it was important to use local contracts and be creative using allocated funds. They reached out to the government’s television station and the University of Puerto Rico to produce culturally –sensitive diabetes education segments for local airing. The Puerto Rico DPCP was able to negotiate reduced fees for production and research needed to create effective messaging.
The “Cambiemos el rostro de la diabetes” (Let’s Change the Face of Diabetes) campaign consisted of six informative TV segments ranging between 30–45 seconds each. The segments focused on several themes related to diabetes: the emotional aspects, the value of family support; diabetes control factors, weight reduction, smoking cessation, and physical activity.
A focus group of diabetic patients from the Corporation of Health Services and Advanced Medicine, later became the real “actors” of the segments. This focus group expressed their feelings about having diabetes and what they expected to see on the final television segment.
Some of the questions asked were
Many of the participants did not have much information about diabetes or how to control it. Focus groups proved that there was a need to educate people about diabetes. Members of the group wanted an effective message to go out to the public with a messenger that looked like them.
The segments were evaluated by a WIPR-TV, Channel 6 communications project counselor Mayra Vega. Ms. Vega is also a communications professor at the School of Pharmacy and Public Health Graduate Studies at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR).
Segments were filmed in various locations, including the Cidra Municipality, a health center, a basketball court, a supermarket and other public places. Technical services were provided by the Educational Technology Department of the UPR’s Medical Sciences Campus.
Segments are shown at events, conferences, meetings, and trainings. NDEP products are featured, including the Movimiento CD, Recetas y plan de comidas (Recipe and Meal Planner Guide), and the Cuide Sus Pies Durante Toda Su Vida (Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime) booklet. Through these efforts, the Puerto Rico DPCP educates people with diabetes and those at risk of developing the disease.
For more information contact Leonardo Pérez, DPCP coordinator, 787-632-3826, by e-mail Leperez@salud.gov.pr or by fax: (787) 767-8008. Or send a written request to Puerto Rico Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, Attention: Leonardo Pérez. PO Box 70184, San Juan, PR 00936-8184.
Would you like to create diabetes education segments for local airing do this in your organization? See below for general “how to” instructions.
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