Occupational health content in Spanish undergraduate nursing degrees: a nationwide cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Occupational health (OH) nursing plays an important role in promoting workplace health and preventing occupational risks. However, the extent to which OH is represented in undergraduate nursing education in Spain remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to analyze the inclusion of OH-related content in undergraduate nursing degrees in Spanish universities. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted through a review of curricula from all accredited Spanish higher education centres offering undergraduate nursing programmes was conducted between February and May 2024. Official websites were searched for syllabi and course descriptions. An ad hoc form was used to extract data on subject type, content format, and thematic focus. Dual independent review and consensus-based validation ensured coding reliability. Results Only one centre offered OH as a standalone compulsory subject. Half of the centres included no OH-related content. Twenty-nine centres (25.4%) integrated OH into compulsory public or community health courses, while 28 (24.6%) offered OH as an elective-ranking fourth after emergency care, language learning, and mental health. Elective OH courses addressed regulatory frameworks, surveillance, ergonomics, risk management, occupational diseases, and psychosocial factors. Conclusions Occupational health content is markedly underrepresented in Spanish undergraduate nursing education. This documentary analysis describes a limited and uneven curricular presence of OH, which may reduce opportunities for undergraduate students to engage with occupational health–related topics. The findings highlight curricular gaps that warrant reflection within nursing education and suggest that a more explicit and balanced inclusion of OH content could be considered as part of broader efforts to align undergraduate nursing curricula with contemporary workplace health and prevention priorities

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