An application of the LePSA methodology for health education in leprosy

This paper describes how the innovative LePSA technique can be used by community health workers to appropriately educate and increase compliance among leprosy patients.A lesson plan illustrating the interactive nature of the technique in a hypothetical Third World community is presented .The lesson plan, using MDT default, shows how the technique can elicit individual participation in a group setting and serve as both an educational and a behaviour change tool.In leprosy, early diagnosis and patient compliance with drug therapy are critical for control of the disease.I With respect to compliance, there is a large literature on the problems encountered with leprosy and other chronic diseases.I -6 In addition, efforts have been made by health educators as well as other social scientists to reduce noncompliance.7 McDougall & Georgiev state, however, that although there are good educational materials fo r health workers, little exists for patients; they present an outline of basic information needed by leprosy patients to improve compliance with drug regimens.7We propose here the application of a new interactive health education/training method (called 'LePSA') to enable community health workers (CHW's) to improve knowledge and compliance among leprosy patients. The LePSA MethodLeprosy control should ideally be accomplished through small groups in the community, including family/household groups, as well as through individual counselling.There are many techniques for accomplishing health education in groups but the best are 'interactive' involving the client or patient and eliciting his/her attitudes and involvement j: Correspondence and reprints.