Abstract:

Brazil took the willing commitment through the 1988 Federal Constitution "to organize human resources training in the health sector" adopting the usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and implementing multiple actions to intervene in professional training and performance qualifying professionals in the health system. Among these there is the Unified Health System Open University (UNA-SUS), created to meet continuing health professionals education needs using distance education. Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ) makes up this network offering free courses, specialization programs, improvement and extension in distance education format, semi-attending, tutored and self-instructionals. Internet is constantly evolving and global reaching, and social medias, mainly Facebook, are tools for interaction, dissemination and one of the largest communication multipliers contacting different cultural, political, economic and social levels. In this scenario, public and private companies transfer efforts to direct communication and interaction practices using them as brand promotion tools, values dissemination and also information transmition regarding services to citizens. This study target was identifying and analyzing UNA-SUS/UERJ students social and digital profiles so as the feasibility of the Facebook usage as a communication tool and dissemination of Institutional info. A Profile Assessment Form of the Legalization courses in Health, Violence Home Care, Elderly Care and Family Health was available online in order to analyze students social and digital profiles in 2013-2014. To assess the relevance and potencial usage of Facebook as a tool to map and track followers profile, identify people involvement and institution posts achievement, we have used the UNA-SUS/UERJ Facebook page. To obtain the data, we have page information display screen-shots, fan categories, involved and reached in the last 30 days. We have used the stats obtained using Google Analytics implemented in the UNA-SUS/UERJ website. The User Profile Assessment Questionnaire was answered by 2665 students and served as a quantitative analysis in which 84% of participants are female from 21 to 35 years old; 73% use internet more than once a day and 86% have a Facebook profile.Throughout the 1,581 followers of the Facebook page, 80% are female from 25 to 34 years old (42%). The interaction, likes, comments and shares were 77% from women most of them from 25 to 34 years old. We highlight the reach beyond Brazil’s borders with 335 users in Portugal and nearly 100 people from Spain and USA. Using Google Analytics statistical reports analysis, we have observed that Facebook is responsible for a large portion of the traffic origin with 48% of users and 16% of these 48% access via Facebook Mobile i.e. using mobile gadgets, have also analyzed that 8136 visitors are from Brazil, but have also seen also a global reach as we could identify access in other countries. We have found that the vast majority of their students have good infoculture and daily internet access, and also have Facebook profile. We have also noted that the traffic generated to the UNA-SUS/UERJ website of, and therefore access to courses information, are mostly originated from the referenced social network. Results-driven, we can conclude that Facebook can be used as an additional resource and should be further explored as a strategic communication and dissemination tool for UNA-SUS/UERJ courses.

Keywords:

Distance education, social network, continuing education.