A network analysis of dissemination and implementation research expertise across a university: Central actors and expertise clusters
Abstract Background: Although dissemination and implementation (D&I) science is a growing field, many health researchers with relevant D&I expertise do not self-identify as D&I researchers. The goal of this work was to analyze the distribution, clustering, and recognition of D&I ex...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Translational Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866122000085/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811156513730854912 |
|---|---|
| author | Reza Yousefi Nooraie Gretchen Roman Kevin Fiscella James M. McMahon Elissa Orlando Nancy M. Bennett |
| author_facet | Reza Yousefi Nooraie Gretchen Roman Kevin Fiscella James M. McMahon Elissa Orlando Nancy M. Bennett |
| author_sort | Reza Yousefi Nooraie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
Background:
Although dissemination and implementation (D&I) science is a growing field, many health researchers with relevant D&I expertise do not self-identify as D&I researchers. The goal of this work was to analyze the distribution, clustering, and recognition of D&I expertise in an academic institution.
Methods:
A snowball survey was administered to investigators at University of Rochester with experience and/or interest in D&I research. The respondents were asked to identify their level of D&I expertise and to nominate others who were experienced and/or active in D&I research. We used social network analysis to examine nomination networks.
Results:
Sixty-eight participants provided information about their D&I expertise. Thirty-eight percent of the survey respondents self-identified as D&I researchers, 24% as conducting D&I under different labels, and 38% were familiar with D&I concepts. D&I researchers were, on average, the most central actors in the network (nominated most by other survey participants) and had the highest within-group density, indicating wide recognition by colleagues and among themselves. Researchers who applied D&I under different labels had the highest within-group reciprocity (25%), and the highest between-group reciprocity (29%) with researchers familiar with D&I. Participants significantly tended to nominate peers within their departments and within their expertise categories.
Conclusions:
Identifying and engaging unrecognized clusters of expertise related to D&I research may provide opportunities for mutual learning and dialog and will be critical to bridging across departmental and topic area silos and building capacity for D&I in academic settings.
|
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:52:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bdb67fb4f11545968d4b2093d34acff6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2059-8661 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:52:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical and Translational Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-bdb67fb4f11545968d4b2093d34acff62023-03-09T12:31:05ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Clinical and Translational Science2059-86612022-01-01610.1017/cts.2022.8A network analysis of dissemination and implementation research expertise across a university: Central actors and expertise clustersReza Yousefi Nooraie0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9002-7121Gretchen Roman1Kevin Fiscella2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3613-8012James M. McMahon3Elissa Orlando4Nancy M. Bennett5Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USADepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USADepartment of Family Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USASchool of Nursing, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USAClinical & Translational Science Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USADepartment of Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA Abstract Background: Although dissemination and implementation (D&I) science is a growing field, many health researchers with relevant D&I expertise do not self-identify as D&I researchers. The goal of this work was to analyze the distribution, clustering, and recognition of D&I expertise in an academic institution. Methods: A snowball survey was administered to investigators at University of Rochester with experience and/or interest in D&I research. The respondents were asked to identify their level of D&I expertise and to nominate others who were experienced and/or active in D&I research. We used social network analysis to examine nomination networks. Results: Sixty-eight participants provided information about their D&I expertise. Thirty-eight percent of the survey respondents self-identified as D&I researchers, 24% as conducting D&I under different labels, and 38% were familiar with D&I concepts. D&I researchers were, on average, the most central actors in the network (nominated most by other survey participants) and had the highest within-group density, indicating wide recognition by colleagues and among themselves. Researchers who applied D&I under different labels had the highest within-group reciprocity (25%), and the highest between-group reciprocity (29%) with researchers familiar with D&I. Participants significantly tended to nominate peers within their departments and within their expertise categories. Conclusions: Identifying and engaging unrecognized clusters of expertise related to D&I research may provide opportunities for mutual learning and dialog and will be critical to bridging across departmental and topic area silos and building capacity for D&I in academic settings. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866122000085/type/journal_articleCapacity BuildingClinical & Translational Science Award (CTSA)Dissemination & Implementation ScienceProgram AssessmentSocial Network Analysis |
| spellingShingle | Reza Yousefi Nooraie Gretchen Roman Kevin Fiscella James M. McMahon Elissa Orlando Nancy M. Bennett A network analysis of dissemination and implementation research expertise across a university: Central actors and expertise clusters Journal of Clinical and Translational Science Capacity Building Clinical & Translational Science Award (CTSA) Dissemination & Implementation Science Program Assessment Social Network Analysis |
| title | A network analysis of dissemination and implementation research expertise across a university: Central actors and expertise clusters |
| title_full | A network analysis of dissemination and implementation research expertise across a university: Central actors and expertise clusters |
| title_fullStr | A network analysis of dissemination and implementation research expertise across a university: Central actors and expertise clusters |
| title_full_unstemmed | A network analysis of dissemination and implementation research expertise across a university: Central actors and expertise clusters |
| title_short | A network analysis of dissemination and implementation research expertise across a university: Central actors and expertise clusters |
| title_sort | network analysis of dissemination and implementation research expertise across a university central actors and expertise clusters |
| topic | Capacity Building Clinical & Translational Science Award (CTSA) Dissemination & Implementation Science Program Assessment Social Network Analysis |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866122000085/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rezayousefinooraie anetworkanalysisofdisseminationandimplementationresearchexpertiseacrossauniversitycentralactorsandexpertiseclusters AT gretchenroman anetworkanalysisofdisseminationandimplementationresearchexpertiseacrossauniversitycentralactorsandexpertiseclusters AT kevinfiscella anetworkanalysisofdisseminationandimplementationresearchexpertiseacrossauniversitycentralactorsandexpertiseclusters AT jamesmmcmahon anetworkanalysisofdisseminationandimplementationresearchexpertiseacrossauniversitycentralactorsandexpertiseclusters AT elissaorlando anetworkanalysisofdisseminationandimplementationresearchexpertiseacrossauniversitycentralactorsandexpertiseclusters AT nancymbennett anetworkanalysisofdisseminationandimplementationresearchexpertiseacrossauniversitycentralactorsandexpertiseclusters AT rezayousefinooraie networkanalysisofdisseminationandimplementationresearchexpertiseacrossauniversitycentralactorsandexpertiseclusters AT gretchenroman networkanalysisofdisseminationandimplementationresearchexpertiseacrossauniversitycentralactorsandexpertiseclusters AT kevinfiscella networkanalysisofdisseminationandimplementationresearchexpertiseacrossauniversitycentralactorsandexpertiseclusters AT jamesmmcmahon networkanalysisofdisseminationandimplementationresearchexpertiseacrossauniversitycentralactorsandexpertiseclusters AT elissaorlando networkanalysisofdisseminationandimplementationresearchexpertiseacrossauniversitycentralactorsandexpertiseclusters AT nancymbennett networkanalysisofdisseminationandimplementationresearchexpertiseacrossauniversitycentralactorsandexpertiseclusters |