Professional competencies for occupational health care

Abstract: Introduction: For health actions aimed at the working population, the development of professional competencies during the graduation is essential. Although relevant and well defined by the National Occupational Health Policy, there are still gaps regarding the minimum skills required and lack of knowledge about how the articulation of this competencies to promote integrated work and meet the needs of this population. Objective: This study aimed to identify the professional competencies for occupational health care. Method: Descriptive-exploratory research, with a qualitative approach, developed through the triangulation of methods, carried out in a city in the interior of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected in three stages: 1. document analysis of the National Curriculum Guidelines for health courses and pedagogical projects for seven courses in the health area of a higher education institution; 2. systematic literature review; and 3. interviews with professors from the health courses of that institution and with professionals from the municipal Primary Health Care Network. Result: The document analysis allowed us to identify that only the Physical Education, Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy courses have specific competences for worker health care; the analysis of the pedagogical projects pointed to mandatory and optional subjects that address the theme. The literature review and interviews pointed out the general and specific skills needed for worker health care, such as comprehensive care, understanding the social determinants of health, communication, leadership, teamwork, conflict management, welcoming/qualified listening, health management and continuing education. Conclusion: The identification of general and specific professional skills for occupational health care proved to be extremely relevant for the construction of comprehensive and humanized care in training and interprofessional practice.