A Scientific and Technical Iinformation Approach to Health Education

Abstract

This paper describes the epistemological approach that guided the launch of the first Comprehensive Post-Graduate Course on Health Information Science and Technology in Brazil. Despite evidence of the fundamental role played by human resources in any health system, nations around the world face a growing gap between the challenges of improving health and the capacity of health personnel to address these challenges. Closing this gap is particularly crucial in relation to the translation of research into practice. Therefore, the development of specific competencies for managing scientific and technological information has emerged as a priority on the political agenda. Based primarily on the information science perspective, the course has already trained 272 health professionals since its inception with diverse profiles derived from various health practice contexts; in addition, the course plays an important role in the promotion of partnerships and collaboration in an environment that values continuous learning. This diversity enabled a series of creative and innovative proposals, each characterised by a deep sense of social responsibility.