Background: In several health systems of advanced countries, reforms have changed primary care in the last two decades. The literature has assessed the effects of a variety of interventions and individual factors on the behavior of general practitioners (GPs). However, there has been a lack of investigation concerning the influence of the resources embedded in the GPs' personal advice networks (i.e., social capital) on GPs' capacity to meet defined objectives. The present study has two goals: (a) to assess the GPs' personal advice networks according to the social capital framework and (b) to test the influence of such relationships on GPs' capacity to accomplish organizational goals. Methods: The data collection relied on administrative data provided by an Italian local health authority (LHA) and a survey administered to the GPs of the selected LHA. The GPs' personal advice networks were assessed through an ad-hoc instrument and interpreted as egocentric networks. Multivariate regression analyses assessed two different performance measures. Results: Social capital may influence the GPs' capacity to meet targets, though the influence differs according to the objective considered. In particular, the higher the professional heterogeneity of a GP personal advice network, the lower her/his capacity is to meet targets of prescriptive appropriateness. Conclusions: Our findings might help to design more effective primary care reforms depending on the pursued goals. However, further research is needed

Calciolari, S., González-Ortiz, L., Lega, F. (2017). The influential role of personal advice networks on general practitioners' performance: a social capital perspective. BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, 17(1) [10.1186/s12913-017-2467-x].

The influential role of personal advice networks on general practitioners' performance: a social capital perspective

Calciolari, Stefano
Primo
;
2017

Abstract

Background: In several health systems of advanced countries, reforms have changed primary care in the last two decades. The literature has assessed the effects of a variety of interventions and individual factors on the behavior of general practitioners (GPs). However, there has been a lack of investigation concerning the influence of the resources embedded in the GPs' personal advice networks (i.e., social capital) on GPs' capacity to meet defined objectives. The present study has two goals: (a) to assess the GPs' personal advice networks according to the social capital framework and (b) to test the influence of such relationships on GPs' capacity to accomplish organizational goals. Methods: The data collection relied on administrative data provided by an Italian local health authority (LHA) and a survey administered to the GPs of the selected LHA. The GPs' personal advice networks were assessed through an ad-hoc instrument and interpreted as egocentric networks. Multivariate regression analyses assessed two different performance measures. Results: Social capital may influence the GPs' capacity to meet targets, though the influence differs according to the objective considered. In particular, the higher the professional heterogeneity of a GP personal advice network, the lower her/his capacity is to meet targets of prescriptive appropriateness. Conclusions: Our findings might help to design more effective primary care reforms depending on the pursued goals. However, further research is needed
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Goals; Italy; Primary care; Social capital; Female; Health Care Surveys; Humans; Italy; Male; Middle Aged; Primary Health Care; Social Networking; Clinical Competence; General Practitioners; Social Capital
English
2017
17
1
543
open
Calciolari, S., González-Ortiz, L., Lega, F. (2017). The influential role of personal advice networks on general practitioners' performance: a social capital perspective. BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, 17(1) [10.1186/s12913-017-2467-x].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/217529
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