What Types of Networks Do Professionals Build, and How Are They Affected by the Results of Network Evaluation

Bibliographic Data

ID22068197
AuthorsJunji Haruta (0000-0003-4176-7665, University of Tsukuba, corresponding author), Sho Tsugawa (0000-0001-7837-2857, University of Tsukuba)
Year2021
Volume9
Pages758809-758809
Publication date2021-11-23
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2021.758809
PMID34888285
OpenAlexW3216510058
LanguageEN
References cited37

Background: We aimed to explore what kind of social networks characterizable as “consult/be consulted” are built among healthcare professionals in a community and the impact of providing the professionals with these findings. Methods: We adopted mixed methods exploratory study using social network analysis (SNA) and content analysis. SNA can visualize social network structures such as relationships between individuals. The healthcare professionals were asked about the key persons they consulted and were consulted by concerning these healthcare issues: (1) daily work; (2) a person with acute back pain; (3) a garbage-filled house reported by a neighbor; (4) a person with dementia; and (5) a study meeting. We identified the key roles depending on the issues using SNA. After analysis, the analytical findings were shared with the participants. To explore their cognitive responses, an open-ended questionnaire was delivered and a content analysis was implemented. Results: Of 54 healthcare professional participants, the data of 52 were available for analysis. The findings (in the respective order of the five topics above) were as follows: the number of nodes was 165, 95, 85, 82, and 68; clustering coefficient was 0.19, 0.03, 0.02, 0.11, and 0.23; assortativity was −0.043, −0.11, −0.23, −0.17, and −0.23; reciprocity was 0.35, 0.31, 0.39, 0.29, and 0.48. The top three centralities included nurses. Eighty-seven free comments were received, of which 39 were categorized as descriptive, 10 as analytical, and 38 as critical. Discussion: The structure of “consult/be consulted” networks differed by topic. SNA is available to detect the healthcare resources network and it may have helped them to reflect on their own networks

Assortativity · Complex network · Content analysis · Descriptive statistics · Health care · Health professionals · Social media · Social network analysis · Sociology · World Wide Web · Applied Psychology · Computer Science · Health Literacy and Information Accessibility · Healthcare Systems and Technology · Medicine · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Nursing · Psychology · Social Psychology

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