Intestinal parasitic infections: telephone health literacy with men in areas of poverty in the syndemic.

Assignment to groups was based on availability for scheduled telephone education rather than random allocation, so differences between participants could explain results. 58.8% of registered men did not complete post-test: 53.8% of control and 63.8% of experimental. Only one telephone educational practice was carried out with each participant, so the dose of intervention was limited. The outcome was answers to a knowledge questionnaire, not infection, symptoms, treatment, behaviour or clinical health. No later post-test assessed whether knowledge was maintained over time. COVID-19 social distancing, health impacts and economic crisis may have affected telephone access and participation. The study was done in one low-income urban community with men aged 20 to 59 years, so results may not apply to women, younger or older adults, or other settings. The control group had significant pre-post changes and more incorrect answers over time, which complicates interpretation of the telephone education effect.

Funded by FAPERJ, CAPES and FINEP. The supplied text does not state any conflict of interest.

Do not read this as evidence that telephone education prevents intestinal parasitic infections or changes self-care behaviour. The study measured questionnaire answers, and the groups were not randomly assigned, so the observed improvement may not be caused by the telephone education.