Interprofessionalism in continuing health education practices in the Brazilian context: a perspective from graduates, facilitators, and coordinators

Abstract

Abstract This article aims to understand, from the perspective of graduates, facilitators, and coordinators of continuing health education programs, the challenges and barriers to incorporating interprofessionalism in these programs within the Brazilian context. This is a qualitative study, carried out in five states across different regions of Brazil, in 2022, in which the data were collected through semi-structured interviews with coordinators and facilitators, and a questionnaire containing open-ended questions for those who had participated in continuing health education initiatives. All material was organized using thematic content analysis and interpreted in light of the frameworks of interprofessionalism and continuing health education. Our results point to obstacles to the integration of interprofessionalism in continuing health education programs across different dimensions: relational, procedural, organizational, and contextual. In conclusion, overcoming these challenges requires integrated public policies, critical training for educators, valuing teamwork, and institutional strengthening, recognizing that interprofessionalism is not a technical ideal, but a political project for the transformation of care and training in health within the Brazilian Unified Health System.