Measuring integration and influence among health professionals. A social network approach

Programs to manage long term conditions in developed countries seek greater integration and communication between health professionals to improve health outcomes. But more empirical evidence is needed to measure integration and influence for health those who are involved in these programs. This paper analyses the way in which health professionals interact at the primary and secondary care interface, based on integrated care design in a program of chronic care in New Zealand. The frequency, quality and perceived value of the interactions between general practitioners, practices nurses, medical specialists and specialist nurses are used as explanatory variables in graphical models which take a social network analysis approach. The paper shows the configuration of the network between health professionals in an integrated care context and explains the academic and policy implication of the findings.