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Building a virtual network in a community health research training program.
Summary
Building a virtual network for community health research requires clear roles, technology vision, and ongoing support. Key lessons learned can guide future network development and collaboration.
Area of Science:
- Community Health Research
- Health Services Management
- Information Technology in Healthcare
Background:
- A two-year community health research training program in Canada aimed to build a virtual network.
- The program involved 25 health professionals from 17 health regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the experiences, lessons, and implications of establishing a virtual network.
- To provide a descriptive model for developing virtual networks in community health settings.
Main Methods:
- An action research field study utilizing a seven-week training course.
- Participants applied knowledge in community health research projects with ongoing faculty support.
- Data collection included program documents, interviews, meeting notes, computer usage, surveys, and online postings over two years.
Main Results:
- Ten key lessons for successful network building were identified: role clarity, technology vision, implementation staging, protected time, just-in-time training, ongoing facilitation, work integration, participatory design, relationship building, and demonstration of results.
- These elements are crucial for effective virtual network development in community health.
Conclusions:
- The study offers a descriptive model for developing virtual networks in community health settings.
- This model can serve as a foundation for future research and a practical guide for managers.