Patient Education and Counseling 33 (1998) 161–167 Problem-posing in education: transformation of the practice of the health professional a b, b * L.D.R. Casagrande , M. Caron–Ruffino , R.A.P. Rodrigues , b b b c ´ D.M.S. Vendrusculo , A.M.M. Takayanagui , M.M.F. Zago , M.D. Mendes a ˜ ˜ ˜ Education School of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil b ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ Nursing School of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14040-902, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil c ˜ ˜ DURSARP –Department of Urban Planning and Sanitation of the city of Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil Received 9 April 1996; accepted 19 August 1997 Abstract This study was developed by a group of professionals from different areas (nurses and educators) concerned with health education. It proposes the use of a problem-posing model for the transformation of professional practice. The concept and functions of the model and their relationships with the educative practice of health professionals are discussed. The model of problem-posing education is presented (compared to traditional, ‘‘banking’’ education), and four innovative experiences of teaching–learning are reported based on this model. These experiences, carried out in areas of environmental and occupational health and patient education have shown the applicability of the problem-posing model to the practice of the health professional, allowing transformation. u 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. Keywords: Education; Problem-posing; Nursing education 1. Introduction for educative practice, not only in its formal character of systematic teaching and the training In the last few years, great worry has been of personnel, but also in its informal character of registered among health professionals about the relationships with different people (individual inherent educational dimension of the profes- patients, groups or communities). sional practice. Physicians, nurses, psychologists, In this spirit, an Interdisciplinary Group of social workers and others, knowing themselves as Research in Education and Health was formed at educators in their fields, felt the need to prepare the Campus of the University of Sao Paulo in Ribeirao Preto–Sao Paulo–Brazil, uniting staff * members, post-graduate students and profession- Corresponding author. Tel.: (016) 633-1190, Ext 3398; fax (016) 633-3271; e-mail: marciacr@glete.eerp.usp.br als who are working with the knowledge pro- 0738-3991 / 98 / $19.00 u 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. PII S0738-3991(97)00074-8