Understanding the structure of community collaboration: the case of one Canadian health promotion network

Barnes, Martha; MacLean, Joanne C.; Cousens, Laura

doi:10.1093/heapro/daq002

Cited by 20 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Therefore, policies on integrated care matter, as has been supported by findings in six European countries [47]. The sharing network of population health information in neither county has the greatest number of ties in four types of networks, which is not in accordance with previous research in developed countries [4849]. According to interviews with the heads of institutions and doctors, there are two reasons for the difference.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Structure and Effectiveness of Health Systems: Exploring the Impact of System Integration in Rural China

Wang¹,

Birch²,

Ma³

et al. 2016

International Journal of Integrated Care

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction:Facing the challenges of aging populations, increasing chronic diseases prevalence and health system fragmentation, there have been several pilots of integrated health systems in China. But little is known about their structure, mechanism and effectiveness. The aim of this paper is to analyze health system integration and develop recommendations for achieving integration.Method:Huangzhong and Hualong counties in Qinghai province were studied as study sites, with only Huangzhong having implemented health system integration. Questionnaires, interviews, and health insurance records were sources of data. Social network analysis was employed to analyze integration, through structure measurement and effectiveness evaluation.Results:Health system integration in Huangzhong is higher than in Hualong, so is system effectiveness. The patient referral network in Hualong has more “leapfrog” referrals. The information sharing networks in both counties are larger than the other types of networks. The average distance in the joint training network of Huangzhong is less than in Hualong. Meanwhile, there are deficiencies common to both systems.Conclusion:Both county health systems have strengths and limitations regarding system integration. The use of medical consortia in Huangzhong has contributed to system effectiveness. Future research might consider alternative more context specific models of health system integration.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…A high level of shared information is a good indicator of network potential because community capacity generally begins with it. [4950]. Therefore, further development of information sharing networks may bring more collaboration in health systems [51] by solidifying other types of integration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Structure and Effectiveness of Health Systems: Exploring the Impact of System Integration in Rural China

Wang¹,

Birch²,

Ma³

et al. 2016

International Journal of Integrated Care

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In this study, collaboration was assumed to be a reciprocated/ shared act between two parties; the relationships profiled in this network are consequently considered to be undirected. Although mapping a network based only on links confirmed by both collaborators (the organization surveyed and the partners it identifies) could be considered more reliable, including all links indicated by the participants can offer a better representation of the extent of the collaboration network by including potentially weaker but nevertheless existent collaborations between organizations (Barnes et al 2010; Harris 2013; Provan et al 2005). It is also common to treat professional collaborative ties as reciprocated.…”

Section: Social Network Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…SNA has been used to study a wide range of health-related topics (for an overview of the field, see Chambers et al 2012; Smith and Christakis 2008; Valente 2010), and there is growing interest in developing research on the structure of public health systems with the support of SNA (Barnes et al 2010; Harris et al 2008; Leider et al 2015; Luke and Harris 2007; Varda and Retrum 2012). Our study contributes to this trend by providing a first map of the Canadian CDP collaborative structure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping collaborative relations among Canada's chronic disease prevention organizations

Contandriopoulos

Hanusaik

Maximova

et al. 2015

European Journal of Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the field of chronic disease prevention (CDP), collaborations between organizations provide a vital framework for intersectoral engagement and exchanges of knowledge, expertise and resources. However, little is known about how the structures of preventive health systems actually articulate with CDP capacity and outcomes. Drawing upon data from the Public Health Organizational Capacity Study -a repeat census of all public health organizations in Canada -we used social network analysis to map and examine interorganizational collaborative relationships in the Canadian preventive health system. The network of relationships obtained through our study shows that provincial boundaries remain a major factor influencing collaborative patterns. Not only are collaborations scarce on the interprovincial level but they are also mostly limited to links with federal and multi-provincial organizations. Given this finding, federal or multi-provincial organizations that occupy central bridging positions in the Canadian CDP collaborative structure should serve as key players for shaping CDP practices in the country. RésuméDans le domaine de la prévention des maladies chroniques (PMC), la collaboration interorganisationnelle est un processus fondamental pour l' action intersectorielle ainsi que pour l'échange de connaissances, d' expertise et de ressources. Cependant, peu de connaissances existent sur les liens entre la structure de ces réseaux de collaboration et la capacité d' action ainsi qu' avec les résultats de la PMC. En nous appuyant sur des données tirées du Public Health Organizational Capacity Study -un recensement de tous les organismes canadiens de santé publique -nous avons utilisé des méthodes dérivées de l' analyse des réseaux sociaux pour cartographier et examiner les relations de collaboration interorganisationnelle dans le domaine de la PMC. Les résultats de notre étude montrent que les frontières provinciales demeurent un facteur d'influence important sur les schémas de collaboration. Non seulement les relations sont-elles rares au niveau interprovincial, mais elles se limitent presque exclusivement à des liens entre les organisations fédérales et multiprovinciales. À la lumière de ces résultats, les organisations fédérales et multiprovinciales qui occupent une position centrale dans la structure canadienne de collaboration pour la PMC devraient agir comme joueurs clés dans l'élaboration des pratiques de PMC au pays.

show abstract

“…A social network analysis (SNA) approach, which offers a quantitative understanding of networks as a configuration of nodes linked together by means of relations, was used to identify the actors and their connections in each of the four networks [see Barnes et al (2010) for the use of similar categories of roles explored in a social network analysis of a Canadian health care network]. Organisations noted by interviewees and their interrelations were coded for each of these relations using Atlas.ti qualitative data analysis software, and imported into the Ucinet 6 (Borgatti et al, 2002) social network analysis program.…”

Section: Describing and Evaluating The Networkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local Energy Systems: Evaluating Network Effectiveness for Transformation in British Columbia, Canada

Berkhout

Westerhoff

2013

Environ Plann C Gov Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Local governments across the Canadian province of British Columbia have begun to implement measures to achieve energy and greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. Among these, a handful of communities have emerged as leaders, supported by a network of organisations across sectors and scales. This study uses a social network analysis approach to explore the nature and extent of this network, coupled with qualitative interview data to determine its effectiveness. The study reveals that while the network is providing important resources and information, leading governments require specific forms of support to push innovative policies and actions further. In addition, though a shared vision of integrated local energy systems is emerging across the province, the lack of a systemic integration of goals across scales has created significant legislative barriers at the local scale. IntroductionEmpirical studies of the more nuanced processes through which transformations may be achieved remain limited. In particular, the effectiveness of networks as a whole in achieving set goals, including their specific configurations and characteristics, is yet relatively understudied (Newig et al, 2010). An opportunity to assess a transformation network now exists in the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC), where commitments have been made to enact a carbon tax and cap-and-trade initiative, and reduce the province's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 33% below 2007 levels by 2020, and 80% by 2050.As a part of these actions, a BC Climate Action Charter (Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, 2012) was signed by 178 municipalities and regional governments in the province, committing over 90% of the province's local governments to carbon-neutral municipal operations by 2012. In addition, a provincial bill (Government of British Columbia, 2008) also requires local governments to integrate climate and energy goals and measures into their official community plans. As a result, several BC local governments have begun to initiate a series of measures to reduce GHG emissions and improve energy efficiency in the built environment. A number of organisations connected across scales and sectors have created a diverse network of actors that are collectively striving to assist local governments achieve their low-energy and emissions targets.In this paper we use a combination of quantitative and qualitative data to describe this network and evaluate its effectiveness in supporting leading local governments to meet their targets. Both social network analysis and interview data are used to identify the relevant actors, their roles, and the ways in which they are facilitating transformative change in BC's built environment energy system. In sections 2, 3, and 4 we present an overview of networks and their role in effecting transformational changes, the methods, and results of the study, respectively.

show abstract

Understanding the structure of community collaboration: the case of one Canadian health promotion network

Cited by 20 publications

References 7 publications

The Structure and Effectiveness of Health Systems: Exploring the Impact of System Integration in Rural China

The Structure and Effectiveness of Health Systems: Exploring the Impact of System Integration in Rural China

Mapping collaborative relations among Canada's chronic disease prevention organizations

Local Energy Systems: Evaluating Network Effectiveness for Transformation in British Columbia, Canada

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About