Health professional networks as a vector for improving healthcare quality and safety: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

While there is a considerable corpus of theoretical and empirical literature on networks within and outside of the health sector, multiple research questions are yet to be answered.

Objective

To conduct a systematic review of studies of professionals' network structures, identifying factors associated with network effectiveness and sustainability, particularly in relation to quality of care and patient safety.

Methods

The authors searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science and Business Source Premier from January 1995 to December 2009.

Results

A majority of the 26 unique studies identified used social network analysis to examine structural relationships in networks: structural relationships within and between networks, health professionals and t

SUBMITTER: Cunningham FC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3285140 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature