Tele-education as a digital technology for permanent health education for SUS workers: challenges and perspectives

This study explores the potencial and challenges of using digital information and communication technologies as a strategy for permanent health education, based on a case study of the tele-education model implemented by Saúde Digital UFSC (2021-2024). This mixed-methods study draws on technical reports, educational content, and indicators of course delivery, participation, and completion. During the period, 329 web conferences and 60 cohorts across 13 online courses were delivered; 12,981 health workers attended the web conferences and 4,220 completed the courses. The model, grounded in the integration of between education, service delivery, and management, ensured the relevance of topics to everyday work and supported engagement and territorial reach. However, training occurred mostly outside protected working hours, with barriers related to clinical workload, connectivity, and digital skills. In light of the micropolitics of health work, the professional field and unequal distribution of capitals, along with the conditions required for transformative learning, the findings suggest that tele-education can strengthen permanent health education, provided it is supported by institutional conditions for workers, adequate infrastructure, and digital inclusion strategies.