Informal training in staff networks to support dissemination of health promotion programs.
OBJECTIVE
To study informal skill transfer via staff networks as a complement to formal training among afterschool childcare providers implementing a health promotion program.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, sociometric network analysis.


METHODS
Boston Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) afterschool programs implementing the iPLAY program.


METHODS
All 91 staff members at 20 sites were eligible; 80 completed the survey (88% response rate).


METHODS
At the network level, network density measured system-level connectedness. At the staff level, the independent variable was out degree, the number of individuals to whom respondents noted a program-related connection. The dependent variable was skill gains, the number of key implementation skills gained from the network.


METHODS
We mapped the staff program-related social network. We utilized multiple linear regression to estimate the relationship between out degree and skill gains, and we adjusted for clustering of staff in sites.


RESULTS
Most staff (77%) reported gaining at least one skill from the network, but only 2% of potential network connections were established. The regression model showed that out degree (i.e., number of program-related contacts) was significantly associated with skill gains (beta = .48, p < .01) independent of other variables.


CONCLUSIONS
Informal skill transfer in staff networks may be a useful complement to formal training for implementation of health promotion programs, but informal skill transfer was likely underutilized in this network. Future research employing longitudinal and/or multisite data should examine these findings in greater detail.
Ramanadhan
Shoba
S
Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. shoba_ramanadhan@dfci.harvard.edu
Wiecha
Jean L
JL
Gortmaker
Steven L
SL
Emmons
Karen M
KM
Viswanath
Kasisomayajula
K
D000328:Adult; D001900:Boston; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011361:Professional Competence; D016730:Program Development; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration; D012944:Social Support; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
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