Background: Brazil ranks fifth in the world in the number of adults with diabetes, and third for type 1 diabetes. Conducting educational actions on this topic in public schools in this country is extremely important, since it can assist in the early adoption of good life habits and in a better care for students in this condition.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an educational intervention about diabetes for students and school staff.
Methods: This is an interventional non-randomized longitudinal study, in which interviews were conducted before and after a playful intervention with the use of theater play and games for students and plus a training for the school staff.
Results: A total of 89 participants completed the study, being 73 students aged 7 to 12 years old, and 16 school staff. As a result, there was a positive change in knowledge and perception of diabetes by the students. The greatest changes in the answers among the participants, at the post-intervention period, were related to the possibility of consuming something with sugar by those with diabetes, and particularly how to cope in hypoglycemia situations by the school staff.
Conclusions: Actions like these must be encouraged within the school environment, especially in countries with high prevalence of diabetes.
Keywords: Community networks; Diabetes mellitus; Health education; Primary school; School health services.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India 2021.