Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Professionalisation of Estonian health promotion field: opportunities and obstacles in local governments for developing core competencies. |
| Alternate Title: |
Eesti tervisedenduse valdkonna professionaalsemaks muutmine: kohalike omavalitsuste võimalused ja takistused kompetentsi arendamisel. |
| Authors: |
Riisenberg, Liina1 liina.riisenberg@ttk.ee, Parder, Mari-Liisa1, Viikmann, Jelizaveta-Anna1, Kunder, Nele1 |
| Source: |
Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. 2026, Vol. 75 Issue 2, p106-117. 12p. |
| Subjects: |
Professionalization, Training needs, Capacity building, Local government, Outcome-based education, Health promotion, Public health, Estonians |
| Geographic Terms: |
Estonia |
| Abstract (English): |
In response to global public health challenges and increasing demands for skilled practitioners, this study explores professionalisation and competency-based approaches among health promotion specialists in local governments in Estonia. The aim was to identify priority areas for competency enhancement and examine opportunities and barriers to additional training. Semi-structured interviews with local government leaders (N = 10) and health promotion specialists (N = 9) were conducted. The sample consisted of interviewees recruited in 2022-2023 and represented three groups: local governments that had created or updated their health and well-being profile, those currently working on it, and those that had not yet begun updating the profile. Thematic analysis identified themes related to the role of health promotion specialists, training needs, awareness of learning opportunities, and the devel - opment of core competencies. The findings revealed considerable variation in how the role of health promotion specialists is understood, alongside limited awareness of the competency framework guiding the profession. Key challenges included inconsistent role definitions, resource constraints, and uneven institutional support for training. Priority areas for competency development were identified in needs assessment, planning, evaluation, and communication. Major barriers to professional development included lack of time, funding, organisational support, and awareness of training opportunities, while employer encouragement, flexible learning formats, and perceived rele - vance to daily work emerged as important enabling factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Abstract (Estonian): |
Artikkel keskendub tervisedenduse spetsialistide professionaalsele arengule Eestis; fookuses on kompetentsipõhine lähenemisviis. Eesmärk on välja selgitada kohalike omavalitsuste juhtide ja spetsialistide hoiakud, vaja dused ja võimalused tervisedenduse kompetentside arendamisel. Käsitlust leiavad teemad, mis on seotud tervisedenduse spetsialisti rolli, tervisedendaja kutsestandardist tulenevate kohustuslike kompetentside ning erialase taseme-ja täienduskoolituse olulisuse, vajaduste ja võimalustega ning nende omandamist toetavate ja takistavate teguritega. Andmete kogumiseks viidi läbi 19 poolstruktureeritud intervjuud, neist kümme omavalitsusjuhtide ja üheksa omavalitsuses töötavate ning rahvatervishoiu valdkonna eest vastutavate spetsialistidega. Tulemused näitavad, et tervisedendaja rolli mõistetakse erinevalt ja teadlikkus kompetentsidest on piiratud. Kompetentsidest vajavad arendamist näiteks vajaduste hindamine, planeerimine ja kommunikatsioon. Tasemeõppesse ja täienduskoolitusele suundumist takistavad muu hulgas ajapuudus, puudulik rahastus ja tööandja tugi ning vähesed teadmised õppimisvõimalustest. Mõned toetavad tegurid on näiteks paindlikud õppevormid ning õppe- ja tööülesannete ühildamise võimalus. Edaspidi on vaja selgemaid rollimääratlusi, tööjõu strateegilist planeerimist ja kestlikku panust professionaalsesse arengusse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: |
Engineering Source |
