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Social Network Analysis as a Methodological Approach to Explore Health Systems: A Case Study Exploring Support among Senior Managers/Executives in a Hospital Network

Author

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  • Aoife De Brún

    (School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland)

  • Eilish McAuliffe

    (School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland)

Abstract

Health systems research recognizes the complexity of healthcare, and the interacting and interdependent nature of components of a health system. To better understand such systems, innovative methods are required to depict and analyze their structures. This paper describes social network analysis as a methodology to depict, diagnose, and evaluate health systems and networks therein. Social network analysis is a set of techniques to map, measure, and analyze social relationships between people, teams, and organizations. Through use of a case study exploring support relationships among senior managers in a newly established hospital group, this paper illustrates some of the commonly used network- and node-level metrics in social network analysis, and demonstrates the value of these maps and metrics to understand systems. Network analysis offers a valuable approach to health systems and services researchers as it offers a means to depict activity relevant to network questions of interest, to identify opinion leaders, influencers, clusters in the network, and those individuals serving as bridgers across clusters. The strengths and limitations inherent in the method are discussed, and the applications of social network analysis in health services research are explored.

Suggested Citation

  • Aoife De Brún & Eilish McAuliffe, 2018. "Social Network Analysis as a Methodological Approach to Explore Health Systems: A Case Study Exploring Support among Senior Managers/Executives in a Hospital Network," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-11, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:3:p:511-:d:136124
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carter, Dorothy R. & Dechurch, Leslie A., 2012. "Networks: The Way Forward for Collectivistic Leadership Research," Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Cambridge University Press, vol. 5(4), pages 412-415, December.
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    1. Irina Timm & Simone Rapp & Christian Jeuter & Philip Bachert & Markus Reichert & Alexander Woll & Hagen Wäsche, 2021. "Interorganizational Networks in Physical Activity Promotion: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Hsin-Pin Fu & Tsung-Sheng Chang & Hsiao-Ping Yeh & Yu-Xuan Chen, 2019. "Analysis of Factors Influencing Hospitals’ Implementation of a Green E-Procurement System Using a Cloud Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Aoife De Brún & Eilish McAuliffe, 2018. "Recruitment of Healthcare Staff to Social Network Studies: A Case Study Exploring Experiences, Challenges, and Considerations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Andrea Schaller & Gabriele Fohr & Carina Hoffmann & Gerrit Stassen & Bert Droste-Franke, 2021. "Supporting Cross-Company Networks in Workplace Health Promotion through Social Network Analysis—Description of the Methodological Approach and First Results from a Model Project on Physical Activity P," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-15, June.
    5. Dongxiao Gu & Jingjing Guo & Changyong Liang & Wenxing Lu & Shuping Zhao & Bing Liu & Tianyue Long, 2019. "Social Media-Based Health Management Systems and Sustained Health Engagement: TPB Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-15, April.
    6. Pilar Marqués-Sánchez & María F. Muñoz-Doyague & Yolanda V. Martínez & Martin Everett & Nestor Serrano-Fuentes & Peter Van Bogaert & Ivaylo Vassilev & David Reeves, 2018. "The Importance of External Contacts in Job Performance: A Study in Healthcare Organizations Using Social Network Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-17, June.

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