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Communication networks in a hospital emergency department

University of British Columbia

The purpose of this study is to describe the communication networks in the emergency department of a large general hospital. , The system was composed of 104 full-time permanent staff members, from the Director to the Cleaners. A data-set, using a roster-type questionnaire and demographic data sheet, was collected. The data were processed using a network analysis programme compiled by William Richards Jr. Analysis showed that the system was structured as follows: Network 1, Getting The Job Done - .353, Network 2, planning or innovations - .294, and Network 3, socialization or tension relief - .311. Where 0.0 indicates complete randomness and 1.0 indicates complete structuring. Two distinct groups were identified and found to be a function of the geographical space in which the members carry out their activities: namely, the psychiatric assessment unit and the remainder of the emergency department. It was concluded that communication networks in the emergency department are closely knit, reflecting the intense activities of the tasks carried on there, as well as the overlapping of multiple shifts and rotations.

Text

2010-02-24

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/20846

Nursing

University of British Columbia

Graduate