Análise de redes sociais: uma proposta metodológica para a pesquisa em saúde e na enfermagem / Social network analysis: a research methodology for health and nursing / Análisis de redes sociales: una propuesta metodológica para la investigación en salud y en la enfermería
Social network analysis is a methodological proposal for analyzing social structures, their interactions and social networks. From sociograms and indicators, it can be determined quantitatively and qualitatively how interactions occur, knowledge is mediated and information flows. This article presenting social network analysis as a methodology for research in health and nursing, highlights concepts and offers some possible examples of its application. By affording public health policaymaking access to the real dimensions of interactions among health professionals, managers and users, the methodology brings health care and nursingplanning to consider new actions often omitted from such policies, which fail to contemplate the real situation of the social actors involved.