A review of professional competencies in health promotion: European perspectives

Abstract

Competencies have been increasingly used in education and the labour market since the 1970s. Within the Health Promotion framework, however, attempts to discuss specific competencies are rather incipient. This paper aims to introduce a discussion on the most essential and desirable health promotion competencies using the EUMAHP (European Masters in Health Promotion) framework. In preparation of this review, we considered three main sources to lead the identification of health promotion competencies: a) a review of the history, culture and identity of health promotion in Europe, b) an analysis of what competencies could be drawn from the health promotion most significant milestones and practice, c) a consultation with health promotion experts, practitioners and trainees. As a result of this exercise a number of competencies were selected and tentatively grouped into the four EUMAHP training core curriculum components: Foundations for Health Promotion (understanding of social, cultural and subjective determinants of health and wellbeing, to identify, document and analyse equity issues, understanding of public sectors, policies and services and understanding of local policies and governments); Health Promotion Practice (to interpret and address cultural and social diversity, to identify, analyse and use scientific evidence; sensitivity towards group and institutional dynamics and ability to deal with such dynamics, democratic and empowering leadership skills, including motivation, dialogue, active and careful listening, empathy and conflict resolution skills, creative and critical thinking, team building and negotiation and partnership building skills, writing skills, to produce and use media resources, language and oratory skills, management skills, planning and monitoring skills); Research Methods (social research skills, to generate and manage socio-economic and epidemiological information, critical appraisal, policy analysis and policy evaluation, technical and report- writing); and European Dimension of Health Promotion (comparative analysis, ability to communicate in a second language, enabling people to use the European context and European cultural diversity as a health promotion resource). Despite the fact that this classification was different to the one used in other competence studies, the results are quite similar to competencies identified by studies made in Australia and New Zealand. Taken into account that these coincidences relate to countries that share cultural similarities with Europe, it can be inferred that the final results are significant and can be useful for further development of the EUMAHP core curriculum and other future developments in health promotion education and training.