RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Social Network Analysis as an Analytic Tool for Interaction Patterns in Primary Care Practices
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 443
OP 448
DO 10.1370/afm.344
VO 3
IS 5
A1 Scott, John
A1 Tallia, Alfred
A1 Crosson, Jesse C.
A1 Orzano, A. John
A1 Stroebel, Christine
A1 DiCicco-Bloom, Barbara
A1 O’Malley, Dena
A1 Shaw, Eric
A1 Crabtree, Benjamin
YR 2005
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/3/5/443.abstract
AB 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.