Using organizational network analysis to plan cancer screening programs for vulnerable populations

R. Lobb, B.J. Carothers and A.K. Lofters

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 2, 358-364

Abstract: South Asian immigrants in the region from the Objectives. We examined relationships among organizations in a cancer screening network to informthe development of interventions to improve cancer screening for South Asians living in the Peel region of Ontario. Methods. From April to July 2012, we surveyed decision-makers, program managers, and program staff in 22 organizations in the South Asian cancer screening network in the Peel region.We used a network analytic approach to evaluate density (range = 0%-100%, number of ties among organizations in the network expressed as a percentage of all possible ties), centralization (range = 0-1, the extent of variability in centrality), and node characteristics for the communication, collaboration, and referral networks. Results. Density was similar across communication (15%), collaboration (17%), and referral (19%) networks. Centralization was greater in the collaboration network (0.30) than the communication network (0.24), and degree centralization was greater in the inbound (0.42) than the outbound (0.37) referral network. Diverse organizations were central to the networks. Conclusions. Certain organizations were unexpectedly important to the South Asian cancer screening network. Program planning was informed by identifying opportunities to strengthen linkages between key organizations and to leverage existing ties.

Keywords: article; Asia; Canada; cooperation; early diagnosis; ethnology; health promotion; human; interpersonal communication; organization and management; public relations; vulnerable population, Asia; Communication; Cooperative Behavior; Early Detection of Cancer; Health Promotion; Humans; Interinstitutional Relations; Ontario; Vulnerable Populations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301532_1

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301532

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