The Impact of Continuing Education in the Health Sector: A Study in Primary Care in the Municipality of Sete Lagoas/MG

Abstract

In contemporary times scientific knowledge requires constant updates. In this context, health professionals, especially those working in the public sphere, face new demands, whether due to the need to acquire new knowledge with the advent of new technologies, or simply because science develops and innovates. This research aimed to analyze how continuing education contributes to the training of nurses working in primary care in the municipality of Sete Lagoas / MG. Based on theoretical discussions on the subject, especially those related to Knowledge Management in organizations and their applicability in the health area, the research focused on the need for updating and specialization of professionals working in public health systems in the country and the possibility of that this training takes place in the modality of Distance Education - EAD. The research was characterized as a qualitative and quantitative case study, whose data were collected through semi-structured interviews answered at the Municipal Secretariat and through electronic questionnaires provided by Google Forms for 47 nurses working in Primary Health Care of the municipality of Sete Lagoas / MG. The research data showed that, although most of the interviewed nurses were in favor of training in the EAD modality, this methodology is not fully explored in the municipality and that there are all the conditions for this practice is indeed effective as an auxiliary methodology in the training for nurses who work in primary care in the municipality surveyed.