Ph.D in Medical Library & Information Science, School of Health Management & Information Sciences, Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Health Management and Economics Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2024 Sep 7;24(1):1040. doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-11525-8.
Knowledge networks, such as Communities of Practice (CoP), are essential elements of knowledge management. They play a crucial role in assimilating various knowledge domains and converting individual knowledge into collective knowledge. This study aimed to assess the concept of knowledge networks and identify facilitators and barriers influencing knowledge sharing in infectious diseases, according to Iranian experts.
This qualitative study employed content analysis and used purposive and snowball sampling. The data were collected via online or face-to-face interviews with 25 participants with diverse expertise in infectious diseases (both clinical and non-clinical), epidemiology, knowledge management, and knowledge-based business management in Iran. The thematic analysis technique was used to code the interviews, and the collected data were analyzed using MAXQDA 20 software.
Thematic analysis of the interviews led to 437 codes. These codes were categorized into two groups: facilitators and barriers. The facilitators shaping the knowledge network for infectious diseases were classified into three main categories: individual factors, organizational factors, and communication mechanisms. Individual factors involved two themes: strengthening knowledge exchange between experts in infectious diseases and personal characteristics such as the criteria for network membership. Organizational factors comprised three themes: organizational and trans-organizational factors, management strategies, and interactions with non-governmental sectors. Communication mechanisms included two themes: the use of information technology and knowledge brokers. In addition, three important challenges were identified as barriers influencing the knowledge network: administration and policy-making, organizational and trans-organizational, and personal challenges.
Several facilitators and barriers influence the formation of an infectious disease knowledge network, which must be addressed to ensure its effectiveness, development, and long-term sustainability. Addressing these factors will enable the network to effectively integrate diverse knowledge and contribute to advancing infectious disease management.
知识网络，如实践社区（CoP），是知识管理的重要组成部分。它们在整合各种知识领域和将个体知识转化为集体知识方面发挥着关键作用。本研究旨在评估知识网络的概念，并根据伊朗专家的意见，确定影响传染病知识共享的促进因素和障碍。
本定性研究采用内容分析法，采用目的抽样和滚雪球抽样。通过在线或面对面访谈的方式，对 25 名具有不同专长的参与者（包括临床和非临床传染病、流行病学、知识管理以及伊朗基于知识的企业管理）进行了数据收集。采用主题分析技术对访谈进行编码，并使用 MAXQDA 20 软件对收集的数据进行分析。
对访谈的主题分析产生了 437 个代码。这些代码分为促进因素和障碍两个组。塑造传染病知识网络的促进因素分为三个主要类别：个人因素、组织因素和沟通机制。个人因素包括两个主题：加强传染病专家之间的知识交流和个人特征，如网络成员的标准。组织因素包括三个主题：组织和跨组织因素、管理策略以及与非政府部门的互动。沟通机制包括两个主题：信息技术的使用和知识经纪人。此外，还确定了三个影响知识网络的重要障碍：管理和决策制定、组织和跨组织以及个人挑战。
形成传染病知识网络的促进因素和障碍有很多，必须加以解决，以确保其有效性、发展和长期可持续性。解决这些因素将使网络能够有效地整合各种知识，为传染病管理的发展做出贡献。
