Permanent Education as a strategy for enhancing the National Oral Health Policy in municipalities: an analysis of FormaSB

Abstract

Abstract The study analyzes the experience of the course “Oral Health Training: Work Process and Municipal Implementation of the National Oral Health Policy (FormaSB),” a nationwide online educational initiative primarily targeting municipalities with up to 30,000 inhabitants in the North and Northeast regions. Grounded in the principles of Permenent Health Education and the pedagogy of problematization, the course comprised 60 hours of instruction and included synchronous tutoring sessions. Participants included dentists, oral health technicians and assistants, and municipal managers. The analysis was based on data regarding enrollment, certification, and participant evaluations. A total of 3,265 professionals from 814 municipalities enrolled, with an 80.5% completion rate. Evaluations revealed high levels of satisfaction, alignment between course content and work demands, and frequent application of acquired knowledge in professional practice. Outcomes included strengthened teamwork, enhanced problem-analysis capabilities, and the incorporation of local intervention projects. Challenges persist, such as disparities in digital access and power imbalances among professional categories. FormaSB emerged as a promising strategy for Permanent Education in Health, contributing to the enhancement of the National Oral Health Policy by integrating training, management, and care within the Unified Health System.