PhD Project - The impact of an electronic medication management system on social networks of hospital ward staff

Nerida Creswick

Supervisors: Prof Johanna Westbrook, Prof Jeffrey Braithwaite & A/Prof Rick Iedema

Networks exist in nature and society. A network is a group of objects that are connected to each other. Studying social networks helps us to understand the complex structure of organisations and illuminate information exchange and communication processes within and between organisations and their members. Social networks are complex and dynamic – a small change in the links between nodes can lead to a large change in overall network structure. It is anticipated that there will be considerable change when an electronic medication management system is introduced into a hospital.

The study is being carried out in three wards/departments of a Sydney metropolitan teaching hospital where the implementation of an electronic medication management system is planned. Social network analysis of hospital ward staff is being applied. Data is being collected using a questionnaire, interviews and focus groups, and direct observation of staff interactions. Each of these methods will be carried out pre- and post-implementation of the electronic medication management system.

Results will be based on the analyses of the social networks of the wards. Network diagrams will be presented to show how ward staff are connected by their patterns of communication and information exchange, and how these patterns change with the introduction of the electronic medication management system.

The study will investigate how the electronic medication management system changes communication patterns between hospital staff. This will provide the basis to assess the positive and negative effects of these changes and potential strategies to address any negative impacts on communication processes resulting from the introduction of the information system.