CICAD Schools of Nursing Project on Prevention of Drug Use and Abuse, Social Integration, and Health Promotion in Latin America and the Caribbean 

    
 

Executive Summary

  

  

CICAD SCHOOLS OF NURSING PROJECT ON PREVENTION OF DRUG USE AND ABUSE, SOCIAL INTEGRATION, AND HEALTH PROMOTION IN LATIN AMERICA:

ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS

1998-2001

1.                  Introduction

 

          National governments throughout the hemisphere are increasingly emphasizing measures to reduce the demand for drugs. The CICAD Anti-Drug Strategy in the Hemisphere has complemented this approach during the last decade by addressing the need for greater technical expertise in addressing substance abuse, in particular, creating professionals to work for demand reduction. In 1997, with financial support from the Governments of Japan, the United States, and Canada, CICAD initiated a pilot project with Schools of Nursing to prevent the use and abuse of drugs, social integration, and health promotion in several Latin American countries. This pioneer venture stands out, since only few schools of nursing in industrialized or less industrialized countries offer programs that include study of the drug phenomenon. This document presents an overview of the activities and results of this project during the period 1998-2002.

 

2.                  General Overview

 

2.1      Phases, Objectives, Composition

    The CICAD Schools of Nursing project has been implemented in ten universities distributed in nine countries of Latin America. The project is divided into three phases with the following objectives and composition:

 

(i)                   Phase I – 1998-2001 – Pilot Experience in Latin America

 

Objectives:         (i) Introduce the theme of drugs into undergraduate nursing  curricula

                                    (ii) Implement extension activities at the community level; and

                           (iii) Develop research pilot-studies on drug issues

Composition:  Two groups of universities and schools of nursing became part of the project during Phase I.

Group I (1998-2000)

                           National University of Cordoba/School of Nursing/Argentina

                           National University of Colombia/Faculty of Nursing/Colombia

                           University of Carabobo/School of Nursing/Venezuela

Group II (1999-2001)

                           University Mayor of San Andres/Nursing Career/Bolivia

                           University of Guayaquil/School of Nursing/Ecuador

                           University Cayetano Heredia/Faculty of Nursing/Peru        

 

(ii)                 Phase II – 2001-2005 – Expansion of Project in Latin America and the Caribbean 

 

Objectives:         (i) Introduce the theme of drugs into graduate nursing curriculum

                                    (ii) Initiate the development and implementation of Centers led by nurses on prevention of   

                                    drug use and abuse, social integration, and health promotion 

                                    (iii) Development transnational and multi-centric research studies on drug issues involving 

                                    graduate students and faculty from specialization, masters, and doctoral nursing programs in

                                    Latin America.

                                           

Composition:   Three groups of universities and schools of nursing became part of  the project during Phase II.

                      

Group I & II – Period 2001-2003

                                    National University of Cordoba/School of Nursing/Argentina

               National University of Colombia/Faculty of Nursing/Colombia

               University of Carabobo/School of Nursing/Venezuela

               University Mayor of San Andres/Nursing Career/Bolivia

                                             University of Guayaquil/School of Nursing/Ecuador

                                    University Cayetano Heredia/Faculty of Nursing/Peru        

 

Group III -  Period 2001-2003

    New Universities and Schools of Nursing became part of the project during 2001. These schools will introduce the theme of drug into the undergraduate and graduate curricula at the same time. 

                                    State University of Rio de Janeiro/UERJ/Brazil

                                    Federal University of Santa Catarina/UFSC/Brazil

                                    University of Nuevo Leon/Mexico

                                    University of Concepcion/Chile  

 

Group IV- Period 2002-2005-Regional Approach

 

    New Universities and Schools of Nursing in Central America and the Caribbean are in process to become part of the project. 

 

(iii)                Phase III – Inter-Institutional Partnership and Collaboration

 

Objectives:            (i) Develop collaboration with national organizations to provide technical  support for CICAD SON

                                       Project in Phase II and III.

                             (ii) Implement regional and international research capacity building programs for nursing

                             faculty in universities in Canada, United States, and Brazil.

                             (iii) Develop partnerships with international organizations (PAHO/WHO) to expand the SON

                                       experience to Schools of Public Health in Latin America.

                                  

Composition:  Three groups of institutions and universities are involved in Phase III of the Project:

 

Group I -  2000 to Present

                     U.S. national organizations, associations, and international nursing network to provide

                     technical support for the implementation of the activities of Phase II and III of the project.

                     National League of Nursing/NLN/US

                     National Institute of Nursing Research/NINR/US

                     International Network of Doctoral Nursing Education/INDEN/US

                Canadian Association for Universities with Nursing Schools/CAUSN/ Canada

 

Group II – 2001-2004

 

    Composed of four Universities and Schools of Nursing from Canada, United States, and Brazil responsible for implementing the regional and international research capacity-building programs for nursing faculty from Latin America.

                                      University of Alberta/Canada

                                      University of Maryland/USA

                                      University of Michigan/USA

                                      University of Sao Paulo/Brazil

 

Group III- 2002-2005

 

    Composed of a partnership between CICAD/PAHO to implement a technical cooperation to expand the experience of CICAD/SON project within the Schools of Public Health in Latin America.

                                       

2.2.            Steps for Implementing of Activities

 

Each university and school of nursing implemented the project activities in the following steps:

        (i)   Socialization of project at School of Nursing and University.

        (ii)  Providing drug-related issues educational and training programs for faculty.

        (iii) Development of drug–related issues nursing curricula.

        (iv) Implementation of drug-related issues nursing curricula.

        (v)  Implementation of drug-related issues extension programs and research projects.

        (vi)  Development and implementation of evaluation and monitoring systems.

2.3               Results Phase I:

 

(i)                  Education Activities:

    Six schools of nursing in Latin America have already incorporated the theme of drugs in the undergraduate-nursing curriculum and are implementing it. CICAD has posted the nursing curriculum with the theme of drugs on the CICAD web page. The schools of nursing at this stage are:

        National University of Cordoba/School of Nursing/Argentina

        National University of Colombia/Faculty of Nursing/Colombia

        University of Carabobo/School of Nursing/Venezuela

        University Mayor of San Andres/Nursing Career/Bolivia

        University of Guayaquil/School of Nursing/Ecuador

      University Cayetano Heredia/Faculty of Nursing/Peru 

                 By 2005 we will have the first group of nurses prepared to work on demand reduction. An estimate 5,000 nurses will have the knowledge and skill to work on prevention of drug use and abuse, social integration and health promotion in nine Latin American countries.

          

            (ii)                 Extension Activities

 

The following extension activities were implemented at community the level by the projects in each country:

 

Argentina: National University of Cordoba/School of Nursing

Four extension projects were implemented in a specific community in Cordoba. The projects addressed: (a) Neighborhood Health Promotion Program; (b) Prevention of Use and Abuse of Drugs by Health Professionals; (c) School Teacher Training Program on Prevention of Use and Abuse of Drugs and Family Violence; (d)  Health Education and Prevention of Drug Addiction Among Middle School Children

Colombia: National University of Colombia/Faculty of Nursing

Three extension projects were implemented with specific population groups, addressing:      (a) Inter-Institutional Community Program on Health Promotion and Prevention of Use and Abuse of Drugs among the General Public; (b) Drug Addiction Prevention Program for Students at National University of Colombia; and (c) Intervention Program Directed to Social Problems resulting from Violence and Drug Use. 

Venezuela: University of Carabobo/School of Nursing

Two extension projects were implemented in a specific community, addressing: (a) Prevention of Use and Abuse of Drugs at the Community Level; and (b) Workshops on Prevention of Drug Use and Abuse for Students at the  School of Nursing.

Bolivia: University Mayor of San Andres/Nursing Career

It was completed the following extension activities at the community level: a) Health Promotion and Prevention of Drugs Among Pregnant Women, b) Health Promotion Interventions with Youth participation at “Bajo Tejar”, c) Say not to Drugs, d) Say not to Alcohol, e) Say not to Drug Addiction, f) Drugs and Human Values, g) Healthy Life Styles, h) Education for Adequate Elimination of Garbage, i) Health Promotion and Prevention of Alcohol Consumption and Drugs I and II, j) Chemical Risks and Stress in the Workplace, and Alcoholism among workers. 

Ecuador: University of Guayaquil/School of Nursing

Four extension projects were implemented with specific population groups, addressing:  (a) Health Promotion Program on Improve Lifestyles; (b) Health Promotion Program for Families; (b) Health Promotion Program for Community Members; and (c) Social Integration Program for Youth.

Peru: University Cayetano Heredia/Faculty of Nursing

Four extension projects were implemented with specific population groups, addressing: (a) Lima Drug Letter to the World; (b) Youth Fair at Educational Centers on Health Promotion and Prevention of use and Abuse of Drugs; (c) Celebration of World Day Without Smoking; and (d) Interdisciplinary Work on Prevention of Drug Use and Abuse at Community Level.  

 

(iii)               Research Activities

The following research pilot studies were implemented in each country:

Argentina: National University of Cordoba/School of Nursing

Three research pilot projects were implemented, addressing: (a) Consumption of Medicine without Medical Prescription; (b) General Profile of Tobacco Users; and (c) General Profile of Alcohol Use Among Teenagers;

Colombia: National University of Colombia/Faculty of Nursing

Four research pilot projects were implemented, addressing: (a) The Meaning of Being Young by Drug Users; (b) The Use of Resilience as an Empowerment Process for Nursing Students in Prevention of Drug Use and Abuse; (c) Social Representation of Drugs by Nursing Faculty and Students; and (d) Prevalence of Alcohol Use Among Middle School Children.  

Venezuela: University of Carabobo/School of Nursing

Three Research pilot projects were implemented, addressing: (a) Middle School Children’s Knowledge on Tobacco and Alcohol; (b) Intervention Educational Program on the Use and Abuse of Tobacco and Alcohol; and (c) Nursing students knowledge of the Risk Factors for the Consumption of Illicit Drugs. 

Bolivia: University Mayor of San Andres/Nursing Career

Four research pilot projects were implemented, addressing: (a) Prevention of Use and Abuse of Drugs among teenagers 10-19 years old  in the neighborhood of “Barrio Lindo”;  (b) Preliminary study of schools of Nursing for the project on the education of health promotion and prevention of drug use and abuse in the Andean Countries and Brazil;  (c) Nursing in Primary Health Care; d) Healthy lifestyles in Middle Schools in the Municipal District of “El Tejar”.

Ecuador: University of Guayaquil/School of Nursing

One research pilot project was implemented, addressing:  (a) Knowledge, Beliefs, Attitude, and Practice at the Nursing Faculty and Students Regarding the Use and Abuse of Licit and Illicit Drugs at the University of Guayaquil.

Peru: University Cayetano Heredia/Faculty of Nursing

One research pilot project was implemented, addressing: (a) Knowledge, Beliefs, Attitude, and Practice by Nursing faculty and Students Regarding the Use and Abuse of Licit and Illicit Drugs at the University Cayetano Heredia.

 

2.4              Results Phase II

 

(i)          Education

     All ten schools of nursing are in the process of introducing the theme of drugs into graduate nursing programs, and four of them (Brazil:UFSC, UERJ, Chile: UC; Mexico: UANL) are also introducing the theme of drugs at the undergraduate level. The CICAD SON project is expanding into some countries of Central America and in the Caribbean.

 

 (ii)          Extension

    The extension activities are being developed in all ten Schools of Nursing, which are creating centers of prevention of drug use and abuse, social integration, and health promotion led by nurses.

 

(iii)          Research

    Pilot research studies have been developed on the subject of drugs by Masters students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina/Brazil and the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon/Mexico.

 

(iv)          Organization  International  Meetings

     CICAD and the University of Nuevo Leon/Monterrey/Mexico organized the First International Meeting on New Nursing Doctoral Programs in Latin America, held at that University November 28 December 1,2001. The technical report of the meeting is posted on the CICAD web page/Demand Reduction Program/Schools of Nursing Project.   

 

 2.5     Results Phase III

 

(i)          Partnerships with Universities in Canada, United States, and Brazil:

 

    In 2001, CICAD Schools of Nursing Project developed partnerships with the following four universities: in Canada (1) The University of Alberta/School of Nursing; in the United States (2), The University of Michigan/School of Nursing; The University of Maryland/School of Nursing; and in Brazil (1) The University of Sao Paulo/School of Nursing. These universities became CICAD collaborative universities to provide the technical support to implement a series of research capacity-building programs for nursing faculty involved with the project. Over three years each of these universities will be offering three regional (USP/Brazil) and three international research training programs for nurses from Latin America on research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) to be applied to the studies of drug phenomenon. The faculty trained in these programs will be responsible, upon returning to their countries, for developing similar research capacity-building programs for faculty from each school in the country, along with nurse practitioners.

 

(ii)          Collaboration of National & International Associations

 

    In 2001, the CICAD Schools of Nursing Project collaborates with four Organizations. The objective is to develop technical cooperation between CICAD and these organizations for the provision of technological and scientific support for the implementation of the activities of Phase II and III of the Schools of Nursing Project in nine countries in Latin America. The national and international organizations are:

  (iii)          Partnership with International Organization

   

    CICAD SON is developing a partnership with Pan American Health Organization/PAHO – Human Resources Program, to expand the experience of the CICAD SON project at Schools of Public Health in Latin America to work on international/global health issues and the drug phenomenon. The basic components of the project are also education, practice, and research.

 

3.           Conclusions

     The CICAD Schools of Nursing Project on prevention of drug use and abuse, social integration, and health promotion in Latin America has been very successful thus far. The results achieved from 1998-2001 in education, extension, and research indicates nurses can exercise a leadership role in demand reduction in Latin America. The project has created a model for human resources development in the roles of nursing and research. This experience can be replicated in other areas, both within CICAD and beyond.

    Continued financial support for this project is imperative if the project is to achieve its goal of creating a cadre of professional nurses with the scientific and technical skills to be leaders and have an impact in reducing the demand for drugs in the Americas.