Software on waterborne diseases for students with an epidemiological profile in health technologies

Abstract

Introduction: water-borne diseases are the subject of study, fundamentally from the students of careers with an epidemiological profile.

Objective: to assess the use of the software for the study of water-borne diseases in the Intermediate Technician courses in Surveillance and Anti-Vector Control.

Methods: an explanatory research was carried out at the Faculty of Nursing-Health Technology of Santiago de Cuba, during the 2018-2019 academic year. An intentional sample of 98 students and 11 professors of the Intermediate Technician in Surveillance and Anti-Vector Control and Degree in Hygiene and Epidemiology was selected. The software was developed with the modules: Start, Agenda, Glossary, Exercises, Media Library, Complements and Help. From different indicators it was valued. The established ethical precepts were fulfilled.

Results: 100 % of the teachers gave a rating of very adequate in the following aspects: adequacy of the contents at the level of the users, usefulness in teaching, navigability and bibliographic contribution. It was found that 85,71 % of the students kept their concentration while manipulating the software; 87,71 % maintained acceptable levels of motivation and 58,16 % did not use help.

Conclusions: the assessments issued revealed the high relevance and timeliness of the software designed, as a didactic mediator, for the study of waterborne diseases in the Surveillance and Anti-Vector Control Technician courses. The research provided evidence on the use of a technological didactic medium for professional training in health technologies.