Social network structures of primary health care teams associated with health outcomes in alcohol drinkers with diabetes

Abstract

This study evaluates if social network structures in primary care teams are related to biometric outcomes of diabetic alcohol drinkers. The study results show that primary care teams with less hierarchical face-to-face social networks (i.e. more connection density, more 3-tie closures and less network centrality) have better controlled HbA1c, LDL cholesterol and blood pressure among their diabetic alcohol drinking patients. Notably, more interconnected primary care teams, with members who engage others in face-to-face communication about patient care, who feel emotionally supported by their coworkers, and who feel like they work with friends, share the same goals and objectives for patient care and have better patient outcomes, as evidenced by the diabetic biometric measures of their team's patients. © 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland.