Health Education in SESAP/RN Management Instruments: A Look at the Period from 2019 to 2022

Abstract

The study conducted from 2019 to 2022 was developed through a technical cooperation project between the State Department of Public Health of Rio Grande do Norte (SESAP-RN) and the Center for Strategic Studies of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (CEE/FIOCRUZ), in conjunction with the Center for Studies in Collective Health of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (NESC/UFRN). Its objective was to identify training demands in the field of health and define thematic axes for qualification based on the analysis of the situational diagnosis established in the state management instruments of SUS-RN. The study began with a historical review of Continuing Health Education (EPS) in the country and the responsibilities of states regarding continuing education guided by the National Policy on EPS. The analysis was conducted in partnership with a technical reference group from SESAP-RN. A total of nine documents, deemed essential for planning and managing educational demands for SUS in RN, were organized into matrices. These documents include detailed reports, graphs, and tables. Findings were validated, and strategic actors for interviews were identified, with detailed follow-up of these agendas. It was observed that the analyzed instruments do not adequately align the issue of continuing education with the core priorities of management. Emphasis is placed on Continuing Health Education as a priority field in team agendas, representing a fundamental conceptual framework for work in SUS-RN, where employees play a crucial role in making quality decisions in their daily routines.