PROGRAMA SAÚDE NA ESCOLA: Revisão integrativa sobre a execução e abrangência das ações

Abstract

The School Health Program (Programa Saúde na Escola – PSE), established by Decree No. 6,286/2007, is an intersectoral public policy aimed at the continuous integration of health and education actions within the Brazilian territory, with a focus on health promotion and the comprehensive care of children and adolescents. This study aimed to analyze the development of the PSE in Brazil from 2007 to 2025, identifying the main actions implemented, strategies adopted, as well as the strengths and weaknesses highlighted in the scientific literature. Additionally, the study sought to support the development of an educational product, designed as a continuing education training guide, structured through participatory stages and oriented toward strengthening intersectoral practices in the school context, with the purpose of improving the quality of PSE actions.This research consists of an integrative literature review conducted in scientific databases and gray literature, applying previously defined eligibility criteria. A total of 367 records were identified, of which 33 met the inclusion criteria and composed the final synthesis. The analysis revealed a predominance of qualitative approaches, centered on the perceptions of professionals, managers, and students, with emphasis on intersectoral dynamics and the local implementation processes of the program. The findings indicate that the most recurrent actions correspond to clinical assessments of students, such as anthropometry, visual acuity, oral health, and vaccination status, whereas educational activities appear in a sporadic and fragmented manner. This pattern highlights weaknesses in the articulation between health and education, evidencing a gap between the intersectoral guideline and its operationalization in the territory. Among the identified strengths are the progressive institutionalization of the program, the recognition of intersectorality as a guiding principle for the articulation between health and education, the program’s territorial capillarity, and the recognition of the school as a strategic space for health promotion. The main weaknesses include the predominance of a biomedical model guiding practices, often disconnected from preventive and educational actions; the absence of standardized protocols; inconsistencies in action records; limitations in intersectoral management; and low participation of the school community in planning and implementation processes. It is concluded that, although the PSE has advanced in its consolidation as a public policy, its effectiveness depends on strengthening intersectoral governance, continuous professional development, and the improvement of monitoring and evaluation processes. The findings of this review supported the development of a continuing education training guide, conceived as a tool to enhance intersectoral practices and improve the implementation of the program within the school setting.