Applications of network analysis to routinely collected health care data: a systematic review

• Published in: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA 2018-02, Vol.25 (2), p.210-221
• Main Authors: Brunson, Jason Cory, Laubenbacher, Reinhard C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Data Analysis; Datasets as Topic; Delivery of Health Care; Electronic Health Records; Humans; Interprofessional Relations; Models, Theoretical; Organizational Case Studies; Qualitative Research; Review; Social Networking
• ISSN: 1067-5027; 1527-974X; 1527-974X
• DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocx052

Abstract Objective To survey network analyses of datasets collected in the course of routine operations in health care settings and identify driving questions, methods, needs, and potential for future research. Materials and Methods A search strategy was designed to find studies that applied network analysis to routinely collected health care datasets and was adapted to 3 bibliographic databases. The results were grouped according to a thematic analysis of their settings, objectives, data, and methods. Each group received a methodological synthesis. Results The search found 189 distinct studies reported before August 2016. We manually partitioned the sample into 4 groups, which investigated institutional exchange, physician collaboration, clinical co-occurrence, and workplace interaction networks. Several robust and ongoing research programs were discerned within (and sometimes across) the groups. Little interaction was observed between these programs, despite conceptual and methodological similarities. Discussion We use the literature sample to inform a discussion of good practice at this methodological interface, including the concordance of motivations, study design, data, and tools and the validation and standardization of techniques. We then highlight instances of positive feedback between methodological development and knowledge domains and assess the overall cohesion of the sample.