Convalidação de curso em ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem (AVA) sobre desenvolvimento de competências gerenciais na atenção primária à saúde

Abstract

Introduction: Managerial work in healthcare constitutes a central element for the organization of services, the qualification of work processes, and the assurance of public access to actions and services provided within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). In Primary Health Care (PHC), this role becomes even more complex due to its coordinating function within the healthcare network, the need to integrate care, management, and territory, as well as the coordination of multidisciplinary teams in dynamic contexts often marked by structural limitations. In this scenario, managerial practice requires the development of specific competencies related to planning, decision-making, leadership, people management, and the use of health information. However, many professionals who assume managerial roles in PHC lack specific training for such responsibilities, which may compromise service efficiency and the quality of care provided. Despite advances in Permanent Health Education policies, gaps remain in the availability of structured, contextualized, and evidence-based training programs focused on the development of managerial competencies. Therefore, the following guiding question emerged: which competencies and content should compose a distance-learning management training program for managers and supervisors of Basic Health Units in the Federal District, and how can this content be validated regarding its clarity and relevance? Objective: To validate a distance-learning management training program designed for managers and supervisors of Basic Health Units in the Federal District, aiming to develop managerial competencies in Primary Health Care. Method: This is a methodological study aimed at the development and validation of an educational technical product. The research was conducted in three sequential and complementary stages. The first stage consisted of an exploratory literature review and course development. A bibliographic search was carried out in the PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, and VHL databases, including publications in Portuguese, English, and Spanish from the last ten years. Based on the findings, common themes, pedagogical strategies, and evaluation methods used in PHC management training were identified, supporting the pedagogical structure of the course according to Morrison’s instructional design model. The course was organized into four thematic modules, totaling 40 hours, and designed for distance learning through the ESP-DF platform. The second stage involved expert validation. Expert judges were selected using an adapted Fehring model, requiring a minimum score of five points according to academic qualifications, scientific production, and professional experience in PHC management or supervision. Ten experts participated in the validation process. Data collection was conducted using a structured four-point Likert-scale instrument assessing the clarity and relevance of the course content. The study was approved by the FEPECS Research Ethics Committee, and all participants signed an informed consent form. The third stage involved statistical analysis and content refinement. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated, adopting a cutoff point of CVI ≥ 0.78 for item acceptance. Items scoring below the established threshold were reformulated based on qualitative feedback provided by the experts. Results: The panel of experts consisted of 10 judges, including PhD and postdoctoral professionals, all with recent experience in the Health Department of the Federal District (SES-DF) or educational institutions such as FEPECS and ESP-DF. The only item that did not achieve the minimum acceptability index was “Budget Management” (CVI = 0.70). Qualitative analyses supported the revision of this content, considering that Basic Health Unit managers in the Federal District do not directly manage financial resources, as budget execution is centralized. Suggestions provided by the experts led to the adaptation of the content toward resource management through the Progressive Decentralization Program for Health Actions (PDPAS), ensuring greater alignment with local governance practices. Even items with satisfactory CVI scores were refined based on expert recommendations. Adjustments included regionalization and technical refinement of the content, replacing concepts of direct financial management with approaches related to supply and logistics management, in accordance with the organizational structure of Basic Health Units within SES-DF. The final version of the course was structured for implementation on the ESP-DF virtual learning platform: https://ava.espdf.fepecs.edu.br/. Developed Products: Two products were developed as part of the study. Product 1 consisted of a scientific article entitled “Validation of Educational Technology for Managerial Competencies in Primary Health Care”, submitted to the Revista Gaúcha de Enfermagem, describing the process of development and validation of the educational technology. Product 2 corresponded to the Technical-Technological Product (TTP): a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)-based course focused on the development of managerial competencies in Primary Health Care, structured into four thematic modules and offered through distance education for managers and supervisors of Basic Health Units in the Federal District. The course was adapted to the institutional reality of SES-DF and is suitable for implementation on the School of Public Health of the Federal District (ESP-DF) platform. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the feasibility of validating, with methodological rigor, a distance-learning educational technology aligned with the institutional specificities of Primary Health Care in the Federal District, presenting evidence of content validity obtained through expert evaluation. The educational material was technically validated, demonstrating coherence and practical applicability. The final version of the course is suitable for implementation on the ESP-DF platform, contributing to the continuing education of healthcare managers in the Federal District. This study is aligned with the research line “Quality in Adult and Elderly Health Care” of the Graduate Program in Health Sciences (PPCS/ESPDF-FEPECS).