Interprofessional education in the qualification of integrated health surveillance actions in primary care.

Abstract

The study aimed to systematize a professional qualification strategy in health surveillance based on the theoretical-conceptual and methodological frameworks of IPE. This is a qualitative, exploratory study that developed an educational proposal. The research was carried out in two subsequent stages in primary health care settings in the highlands of Paraíba. The study involved 24 participants, including managers, coordinators of primary care and health surveillance and senior professionals from health units. In the first stage, a semi-structured interview was conducted with the 24 participants. The data was analyzed using the Categorical Thematic Content Analysis proposed by Bardin. After processing and analyzing the data produced in the interviews, four thematic units emerged as categories of analysis: "Character of health surveillance actions"; "Skills needed for interprofessional work in health surveillance"; "Collaboration and networking as premises of the health surveillance work process" and "Barriers to interprofessional collaboration in health surveillance". The second stage was the development of a professional qualification strategy for primary care professionals working in health surveillance, based on the learning needs identified in the first stage. The proposal is aligned with the theoretical-conceptual and methodological frameworks of IPE and was designed in ten thematic workshops detailing the themes/topics, expected competencies, learning objectives, active methodology, learning theory and learning assessment, with a minimum duration estimated at 120 minutes for each workshop. The discussions were shaped by the reality of health promotion in the context of PHC, from the perspective of the dimensions of interprofessionality. The study draws attention to the need to incorporate the principles of interprofessionality in the implementation of the National Health Surveillance Policy and in health care models that prioritize comprehensive care in the SUS. There is an urgent need for debates and the formulation of innovative interprofessional education initiatives to develop collaborative competencies for the qualification and strengthening of health surveillance.