Social network analysis as an analytic tool for interaction patterns in primary care practices

Social network analysis as an analytic tool for interaction patterns in primary care practices

Scott J; Tallia A; Crosson JC; Orzano AJ; Stroebel C; DiCicco-Bloom B; O'Malley D; Shaw E; Crabtree B

Annals Of Family Medicine

2005

Interprofessional Relations; Medical; decision making; Models; Family Practice/organization & administration; Primary Health Care/organization & administration; Theoretical; Process Mapping; Practice Management

PURPOSE: Social network analysis (SNA) provides a way of quantitatively analyzing relationships among people or other information-processing agents. Using 2 practices as illustrations, we describe how SNA can be used to characterize and compare communication patterns in primary care practices. METHODS: Based on data from ethnographic field notes, we constructed matrices identifying how practice members interact when practice-level decisions are made. SNA software (UCINet and KrackPlot) calculates quantitative measures of network structure including density, centralization, hierarchy and clustering coefficient. The software also generates a visual representation of networks through network diagrams. RESULTS: The 2 examples show clear distinctions between practices for all the SNA measures. Potential uses of these measures for analysis of primary care practices are described. CONCLUSIONS: SNA can be useful for quantitative analysis of interaction patterns that can distinguish differences among primary care practices.

2005

Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

Journal Article

Backlog