Classifying Community Organizational Health Communication Networks: Local Health Department Recognition of Public Information-Sharing Partners Across Sectors

This study seeks to elucidate variation in local network structures to examine how different constellations may affect information sharing across audiences. Design: This study analyzes data from a 2016 US survey of 491 metropolitan LHDs and 556 nonmetropolitan LHDs. Researchers first conducted social network analysis of network density, defined as the total number of potential organizations contributing to a jurisdiction's health communication activities. Researchers then conducted logistic regression to compare the relationship between network density and reported health communication activities targeting 3 specific audiences: policy makers, lay publics, and mass media. Results: Three network types emerged on the basis of the number of organizations that contribute to health communication activities, with low-density Minimal networks more common in nonmetropolitan jurisdictions and higher-density Expanded and Robust networks more common in metropolitan jurisdictions. LHDs in Minimal networks were significantly less likely to communicate with policy makers, lay publics, and mass media than their counterparts in higher-density networks (P
Source: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice - Category: Health Management Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research