Social Network Analysis as a Tool to Inform a Children's Hospital's Efforts to Improve Population Health

A children's hospital explored the feasibility and utility of social network analysis as a tool for system building in community child health, to identify gaps and opportunities in community partnerships, and to assess its role as a contributor to collective impact.

We employed social network analysis with the PARTNER survey to assess relationships among community-based organizations and a children's hospital's community-oriented programs. We utilized a two-stage, snowball sampling strategy to identify community partners. We analyzed social capital, network density, degree centralization, perceived trust, and perceived value. Network mapping depicted the hospital programs' relationships with community partners.

Of the 153 contacted potential respondents, 76 responded for a response rate of 50%. Respondents reported a total of 1116 ties, ranging in strength from awareness and cooperation to coordination and integration. Approximately 60% of network members could reach 100 or more members in 2 steps or less. The overall network trust score was 74%. Network mapping indicated that hospital programs enhance bonding relationships within sectors, bridge gaps between partners from different sectors, and provide linkages to resources such as funders. Deficits in bonding, bridging, and access to funding are evident when the hospital's programs are omitted from network maps.

Findings support the feasibility and utility of social network analysis as a tool for system building in community child health. The study demonstrates the potential of a children's hospital's programs to provide social capital in the form of bonding, bridging, and linking relationships.