Participatory modeling of educational activities in the Healthcare Planning strategy: backing for assessment of effectiveness

Abstract

The Healthcare Planning strategy is a powerful device for reorganization of work processes in healthcare networks and has been implemented by the Brazilian National Council of State Health Secretaries since 2013 in 25 health regions in 11 states, offering a set of educational activities for healthcare workers in the Brazilian Unified National Health System. This study aims to describe the process of participatory and consensual modeling of educational activities to back the assessment of the strategy's effectiveness. Development of the modeling used consultation with 18 key informants, selected intentionally according to their proximity to the educational activities' planning and execution. The key informants analyzed the initially proposed modeling, stating their degree of agreement with the content and providing suggestions and commentary, analyzed by the researchers. Minimum total agreement, predetermined at 75%, was obtained after three rounds of consultation. Important suggestions were provided throughout the rounds, evidencing priority elements for backing assessment of the strategy's effectiveness. Final total agreement in the modeling varied from 76.5% to 100%, according to the component, demonstrating that participatorily modeling can be considered satisfactory. This construction can encourage studies on strategies that seek to improve the health system's effectiveness through development of health workers' competencies, skills, and attitudes.