UIPHP researcher Tetiana Kiriazova presented the results of a qualitative component of the WHO study at the National Conference on Non-Communicable Diseases in Kyiv.
On May 28 and 29, the National Conference on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Achievements and Further Country’s Priorities was held in Kyiv.
According to the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, non-communicable diseases were related to 91% of all deaths in Ukraine in 2017. Among such diseases are cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and other. According to the State Statistical Services of Ukraine, almost 30% of men who died in 2017 from NCDs were in the working age group of 30-65 years. Based on international experience in NCD prevention, there is strong evidence that a major proportion of NCDs can be prevented.
In 2015, the first phase of the NCD prevention project began in Ukraine, three of its four objectives being financially supported by the Swiss Cooperation Office in Ukraine.
At the National Conference on Non-Communicable Diseases, UIPНP researcher Tetiana Kiriazova presented the results of a qualitative component of the World Health Organization (WHO) study "The evaluation of changes in clinical practice after the completion of Essential Training on the Integrated Management of Hypertension and Diabetes ".
Since 2015, within the framework of the national project "NCDs: Prevention and Health Promotion in Ukraine", about 360 trainings have been conducted for more than 10,000 primary health care (PHC) workers in 7 regions of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Institute on Public Health Policy joined the project at the stage of evaluating its results.
Presentation of Tetiana Kiriazova was about the context and conditions under which the novel approaches to the prevention and early detection of hypertension and diabetes were implemented.
Both health care professionals and patients positively assessed the focus of PHC practice on prevention. Family doctors began assessing the risks of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes more actively and discussing with patients not only treatment with medicines, but also their lifestyle (physical activity, healthy diet, unhealthy habits etc.).
At the same time, a qualitative study revealed a number of challenges and barriers for the implementation of modern approaches to prevention and early detection of non-communicable diseases. In the presentation, the researchers provided recommendations for improving the access of patients to appropriate medical services in all regions of the country.