Transitions of Permanent Education in Health Professionals in the Face of COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: The main objective of this study was to understand how the pandemic influenced Continuing Education in Workers’ Health in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study was performed using a qualitative exploratory and descriptive research. We analyzed the content of semi-structured interviews that were carried out with the worker’s health team of a big company. Results: The results were categorized and three categories emerged: Organization of Continuing Education before the pandemic; Changes in Continuing Education resulting from the pandemic; and Long-term implications for Continuing Education in the face of the pandemic. Conclusion: So, with the large impact of COVID-19 we conclude that Permanent Health Education moved from a face-to-face model to e-learning; from professional topics to issues related to the pandemic. The knowledge in technology area was renewed to maintain communication in times of social distance. It is necessary to strengthen return-to-work policies, which highlight the quality of life and the impacts on workers’ mental health, inserting consistent and significant educational policies and mechanisms of confrontation (coping).