title: Social network analysis as an analytic tool for interaction patterns in primary care practices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Social network analysis (SNA) provides a way of quantitatively analyzing relationships among people or other information-processing agents. Using 2 practices as illustrations, we describe how SNA can be used to characterize and compare communication patterns in primary care practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on data from ethnographic field notes, we constructed matrices identifying how practice members interact when practice-level decisions are made. SNA software (UCINet and KrackPlot) calculates quantitative measures of network structure including density, centralization, hierarchy and clustering coefficient. The software also generates a visual representation of networks through network diagrams.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2 examples show clear distinctions between practices for all the SNA measures. Potential uses of these measures for analysis of primary care practices are described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SNA can be useful for quantitative analysis of interaction patterns that can distinguish differences among primary care practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. scottjg@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tallia
authors.forename: Jesse C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Crosson
authors.forename: A John
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Orzano
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stroebel
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: DiCicco-Bloom
authors.forename: Dena
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Malley
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crabtree
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011216:Practice Management, Medical; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration