Gibbons Deborah E
Graduate School of Business and Public Policy, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif 93943, USA.
Am J Public Health. 2007 Sep;97(9):1684-92. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2005.063669. Epub 2007 Feb 28.
I used computational models to test the relationship between interorganizational network structures and diffusion of moderate- to high-priority health information throughout a system. I examined diffusion effects of mean and variance in organizational partnering tendencies, arrangement of ties among subgroups of the system, and the diffusing organization's effective network size.
I used agent-based models to simulate local information-sharing processes and observe the outcomes of system-level diffusion. Graphs of diffusion curves demonstrated differences among intergroup structures, and regression models were used to test effects of parameterized and emergent network variables on diffusion.
The average tendency of participating organizations to engage in partnerships with other network members influenced diffusion of information, but variance in partnering tendencies had little effect. Fully connected subgroup structures outperformed hierarchical connections among subgroups, and all outperformed group-to-group chains. Introduction of a small proportion of randomness in connections among members of the chain structure improved diffusion without increasing network density. Finally, greater effective size in the diffusing organization's network increased diffusion of information.
Small interventions that build connecting structures among subgroups within a health system can be particularly effective at facilitating natural dissemination of information.
我使用计算模型来测试组织间网络结构与中高优先级健康信息在整个系统中传播之间的关系。我研究了组织合作倾向的均值和方差、系统子群体间联系的安排以及传播组织的有效网络规模对传播的影响。
我使用基于主体的模型来模拟局部信息共享过程，并观察系统层面传播的结果。传播曲线图表展示了群体间结构的差异，回归模型用于测试参数化和新兴网络变量对传播的影响。
参与组织与其他网络成员建立合作关系的平均倾向影响了信息传播，但合作倾向的方差影响不大。完全连接的子群体结构优于子群体之间的层级连接，且两者都优于群体间链状结构。在链状结构成员间的连接中引入小比例的随机性可在不增加网络密度的情况下改善传播。最后，传播组织网络中更大的有效规模增加了信息传播。
在卫生系统内的子群体间构建连接结构的小干预措施在促进信息自然传播方面可能特别有效。
