Competency Profile for Primary Health Care Managers in Chile: Mixed-Methods Validation Through Expert Judgment

Area of Science:

• Health Services Management
• Public Health Leadership
• Competency-Based Education

Background:

• Effective Primary Health Care (PHC) management requires strong leadership competencies.
• Existing research lacks a validated competency profile for PHC managers, particularly in Chile.
• Integrating cognitive, emotional, and social competencies is crucial for modern PHC leadership.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a specific competency profile for Primary Health Care managers in Chile.
• To create an evidence-based tool for leadership development, training, and evaluation in PHC.
• To inform the design of competency-based education and training programs in health sciences.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-method observational study utilizing expert judgment from 36 experienced PHC professionals across Chile.
• Quantitative validation using the Content Validity Index (CVI) to ensure expert agreement (CVI ≥ 0.90).
• Qualitative thematic analysis of expert responses to refine and expand the competency domains.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive profile of 47 competencies for PHC managers, categorized into knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
• Emphasis on executive functions, social cognition, emotional intelligence, and institutional support.
• The profile serves as a structured framework for competency-based training and evaluation in health sciences.

Conclusions:

• The validated competency profile provides an evidence-based reference for PHC leadership development and performance assessment.
• Highlights the necessity of including emotional, cognitive, and social dimensions alongside technical skills in leadership training.
• Supports the enhancement of professional training initiatives within Primary Health Care systems.