Soft networks for bridging the gap between research and practice: illuminative evaluation of CHAIN.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the process of knowledge exchange in an informal email network for evidence based health care, to illuminate the value of the service and its critical success factors, and to identify areas for improvement.


METHODS
Illuminative evaluation.


METHODS
Targeted email and networking service for UK healthcare practitioners and researchers.


METHODS
2800 members of a networking service.


METHODS
Tracking of email messages, interviews with core staff, and a qualitative analysis of messages, postings from focus groups, and invited and unsolicited feedback to the service.


RESULTS
The informal email network helped to bridge the gap between research and practice by serving as a rich source of information, providing access to members' experiences, suggestions, and ideas, facilitating cross boundary collaboration, and enabling participation in networking at a variety of levels. Ad hoc groupings and communities of practice emerged spontaneously as members discovered common areas of interest.


CONCLUSIONS
This study illuminated how knowledge for evidence based health care can be targeted, personalised, and made meaningful through informal social processes. Critical success factors include a broad based membership from both the research and service communities; a loose and fluid network structure; tight targeting of messages based on members' interests; the presence of a strong network identity and culture of reciprocity; and the opportunity for new members to learn through passive participation.
Russell
Jill
J
Department of Primary Health Care, University College London, London N19 5LW. j.russell@pcps.ucl.ac.uk
Greenhalgh
Trisha
T
Boynton
Petra
P
Rigby
Marcia
M
D001292:Attitude to Computers; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000592:standards*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards