Potentialities of ciberspaSUS: social networks as devices of public health policies in Brazil

This paper examines two experiences of social networks developed as a space for strengthening public health policies in the Brazilian context. Objective: To describe and analyze some possibilities of using social networks as devices linked to public health policies based on the experience of two comparative cases currently underway in Brazil: The HumanizaSUS Network and the Community of Primary Care Practices. Methods: This is qualitative research with a comparative case study approach, with emphasis on the exploitation of data available in the public platform of both networks and publications around these two experiences. Results: Webometric data of the cases studied will be shown, pointing out aspects of differentiation and similarity between them from three axes of analysis: (1) theoretical-conceptual framework; (2) the design of the platform, its functionalities and its daily support process; (3) the singularities of the related policies. The discussion of these points indicates that social networks can function as devices for education, production of a collection of experiences, clinical collaboration and especially a collaborative creation of spaces for sharing experiences and collective reflection on the daily construction of public policy.