Determining the Components of a Health Information Social Network Based on a Delphi Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: In recent years, social networks have been considered by organizations active in the health sector. They have provided many opportunities for consulting, training, and information sharing and held promises to increase the quality and safety of health care and reduce costs. So it is necessary to study their dimensions and requirements. This study aims to identify the components of the health information social network from the perspective of experts. Methods: This research is an analytical survey using the Delphi method. The statistical population included 28 experts in the field of health information technology in Iran. The data collection tool was a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by experts, and its reliability was 0.96 according to the Cronbach α coefficient. SPSS software version 19 was used for data analysis. Results: According to this research, the health information social network has 6 dimensions, each has several components (a total of 47 components). These dimensions include services, core users, requirements, information security, evaluation and monitoring, and technical features. Conclusion: The dimensions of this network are based on the collective opinion of experts and are a framework for creating a social network of health information. Its use helps in planning and decision making and providing high-quality health services and leads to quality improvement of health indicators.

Keywords

• social networking
• health information exchange
• health promotion
• information dissemination.