Social networks and healthcare coordination: Lessons learned from an Australian cancer care survey

Abstract

Providing coordinated care is a key priority for health service improvement. Given the interpersonal nature of healthcare provision, social networks have emerged as an innovative approach to improving healthcare. However, there is a paucity of research applying network theory to investigate the role social networks play in patient cancer care coordination. In this paper, we describe the development and collection of social network data exploring the personal networks of patients receiving treatment for colorectal cancer. The paper will also discuss the challenges experienced in data collection, lessons learned and implications for future research.