Contemporary competencies of public health professionals: a conceptual analysis and scoping review

To map the contemporary competencies of public health professionals and synthesize how the concept has been described in recent literature.

A conceptual analysis study based on Rodgers' evolutionary method, integrated with a scoping review according to the Joanna Briggs Institute. The review constituted the empirical corpus of the conceptual analysis, enabling the identification of uses, attributes, and transformations of the concept. Empirical and theoretical studies published between 2020 and 2025 were included, identified across eight databases selected for their scope, relevance, and multidisciplinary nature.

Five sets of competencies emerged: analytical and decision-making; communicational and sociocultural; interpersonal and managerial; technological and digital; and those related to prevention, comprehensive care, and emergency response. Structural stability of the construct "public health competence" was observed, sustained by the integration of knowledge, skills, and attitudes, along with the incorporation of emerging elements such as systems thinking, use of technologies, and collaborative practices.

The study contributes to the conceptual refinement of public health competencies by clarifying essential attributes, antecedents, and consequences in the contemporary context. The findings provide support for competency-based education, professional evaluation, and health workforce planning.