Exploration of the integration of care for persons with a traumatic brain injury using social network analysis methodology

Introduction: Integration is a popular strategy to increase the quality of care within systems of care. However, there is no common language,approach or tool allowing for a valid description, comparison and evaluation of integrated care. Social network analysis could be aviable methodology to provide an objective picture of integrated networks.

Goal of the article: To illustrate social network analysis use in the context of systems of care for traumatic brain injury.

Method: We surveyed members of a network using a validated questionnaire to determine the links between them. We determined thedensity, centrality, multiplexity, and quality of the links reported.

Results: The network was described as moderately dense (0.6), the most prevalent link was knowledge, and four organisation membersof a consortium were central to the network. Social network analysis allowed us to create a graphic representation of the network.

Conclusion: Social network analysis is a useful methodology to objectively characterise integrated networks.