Personal Healthcare Networks: Integrative Review of Patient-Centered Social Network Analysis Studies
Other Titles
Rising Star Poster/Presentation
Abstract
Background: Social network analysis is an interdisciplinary social science methodology used to investigate relationships between individuals, communities, and systems. In health research, it has often been used to research interpersonal dynamics on healthcare teams. However, it is infrequently applied to the patient perspective of those teams. One kind of social network analysis, the “personal” network, collects data based on one’s own perception of their connections and relationships. This methodology may be useful to gain the patient’s perspective on accessing healthcare services.
Purpose: To describe and evaluate empirical research using social network approaches to capture the patient perspective about healthcare teams’ structure and function.
Methods: Guided by Whittemore & Knafl’s integrative review methodology, we searched four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science) using terms for three concepts: “patient care team,” “social network analysis,” and “patient perspective.” Included studies applied theories or methods of social network analysis and collected data directly from patients about their healthcare teams (i.e., not informal social networks). Studies primarily collecting data from healthcare workers were excluded. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used for quality appraisal.
Results: The search yielded 3,785 unique records and 19 met criteria for inclusion. Included studies used quantitative (n = 5), qualitative (n = 9), and mixed methods designs (n = 5); were mostly outside of the United States; and spanned many health research areas (e.g., chronic illness management, primary care). Key themes were: A focus on description, opportunities for growth in mixed methods, inconsistent conceptualization of networks, the central role of the general practitioner, and dynamics of power and trust. While methods and topics of interest varied widely, the most rigorous research was completed via qualitative methods. Little work attempted analytically complex hypothesis testing. However, patient-provider dynamic findings point to the value of these approaches for gaining nuanced patient experiences.
Conclusions: This review identifies several opportunities for growth in the social network analysis literature but establishes the approach’s potential as a highly patient-centered methodology. Further, findings contribute to a more unified “personal healthcare network” concept and encourage developing these methodologies in new settings and populations.
Notes
References:
Hong, Q. N., Fàbregues, S., Bartlett, G., Boardman, F., Cargo, M., Dagenais, P., Gagnon, M.-P., Griffiths, F., Nicolau, B., O’Cathain, A., Rousseau, M.-C., Vedel, I., & Pluye, P. (2018). The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018 for information professionals and researchers. Education for Information, 34, 285-291. https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-180221
Whittemore, R., & Knafl, K. (2005). The integrative review: Updated methodology. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 52(5), 546-553. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2005.03621.x
Sigma Membership
Alpha Zeta
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Cultural Context and Care; Social Network Analysis, Interdisciplinary, Relationships, Interpersonal Dynamics, Healthcare Teams
Recommended Citation
Gaedecke, Tyler; Harkins, Sarah; Bockting, Walter; and Jackman, Kasey, "Personal Healthcare Networks: Integrative Review of Patient-Centered Social Network Analysis Studies" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 99.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/posters_2025/99
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-10
Funder(s)
National Institute of Nursing Research
Personal Healthcare Networks: Integrative Review of Patient-Centered Social Network Analysis Studies
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Background: Social network analysis is an interdisciplinary social science methodology used to investigate relationships between individuals, communities, and systems. In health research, it has often been used to research interpersonal dynamics on healthcare teams. However, it is infrequently applied to the patient perspective of those teams. One kind of social network analysis, the “personal” network, collects data based on one’s own perception of their connections and relationships. This methodology may be useful to gain the patient’s perspective on accessing healthcare services.
Purpose: To describe and evaluate empirical research using social network approaches to capture the patient perspective about healthcare teams’ structure and function.
Methods: Guided by Whittemore & Knafl’s integrative review methodology, we searched four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science) using terms for three concepts: “patient care team,” “social network analysis,” and “patient perspective.” Included studies applied theories or methods of social network analysis and collected data directly from patients about their healthcare teams (i.e., not informal social networks). Studies primarily collecting data from healthcare workers were excluded. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used for quality appraisal.
Results: The search yielded 3,785 unique records and 19 met criteria for inclusion. Included studies used quantitative (n = 5), qualitative (n = 9), and mixed methods designs (n = 5); were mostly outside of the United States; and spanned many health research areas (e.g., chronic illness management, primary care). Key themes were: A focus on description, opportunities for growth in mixed methods, inconsistent conceptualization of networks, the central role of the general practitioner, and dynamics of power and trust. While methods and topics of interest varied widely, the most rigorous research was completed via qualitative methods. Little work attempted analytically complex hypothesis testing. However, patient-provider dynamic findings point to the value of these approaches for gaining nuanced patient experiences.
Conclusions: This review identifies several opportunities for growth in the social network analysis literature but establishes the approach’s potential as a highly patient-centered methodology. Further, findings contribute to a more unified “personal healthcare network” concept and encourage developing these methodologies in new settings and populations.
Description
While social network analysis has been used to research interpersonal dynamics on healthcare teams, it is infrequently applied to patients’ perspectives on those teams. This integrative review examines studies that apply methodologies of social network analysis to collect data from patients about their healthcare team. Findings help to define a “personal healthcare network” concept and build the foundation for a creative approach to patient-centered health services data collection.