Post-RN degrees.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the structure and character of inter-organizational relationships found among health promotion organizations is a prerequisite for the development of evidence-based network-level intervention activities. The Alberta Healthy Living Network (AHLN) mapped the inter-organizational structure of its members to examine the effects of the network environment on organizational-level perceptions. This exploratory analysis examines whether network structure, specifically partnership ties among AHLN members, influences organizational perceptions of support after controlling for organizational-level attributes. METHODS: Organizational surveys were conducted with representatives from AHLN organizations as of February 2004 (n = 54). Organizational attribute and inter-organizational data on various network dimensions were collected. Organizations were classified into traditional and non-traditional categories. We examined the partnership network dimension. In- and out-degree centrality scores on partnership ties were calculated for each organization and tested against organizational perceptions of available financial support. RESULTS: Non-traditional organizations are more likely to view financial support as more readily available for their HEALTR programs and activities than traditional organizations (1.57, 95% CI: .34, 2.79). After controlling for organizational characteristics, organizations that have been frequently identified by other organizations as valuable partners in the AHLN network were found significantly more likely to perceive a higher sense of funding availability (In-degree partnership value) (.03, 95% CI: .01, .05). CONCLUSION: Organizational perceptions of a supportive environment are framed not only by organizational characteristics but also by an organization's position in an inter-organizational network. Network contexts can influence the way that organizations perceive their environment and potentially the actions that organizations may take in light of such perceptions. By developing evidence-based understandings on the influence of network contexts, the AHLN can better target the particularities of its specific health promotion network.

Alberta↗

PubMed2006

Can concept sorting provide a reliable, valid and sensitive measure of medical knowledge structure?

CONTEXT: Evolution from novice to expert is associated with the development of expert-type knowledge structure. The objectives of this study were to examine reliability and validity of concept sorting (ConSort) as a measure of static knowledge structure and to determine the relationship between concepts in static knowledge structure and concepts used during diagnostic reasoning. METHOD: ConSort was used to identify static knowledge concepts and analysis of think-aloud protocols was used to identify dynamic knowledge concepts (used during diagnostic reasoning). Intra- and inter-rater reliability, and correlation across cases, were evaluated. Construct validity was evaluated by comparing proportions of nephrologists and students with expert-type knowledge structure. Sensitivity and specificity of static knowledge concepts as a predictor of dynamic knowledge concepts were estimated. RESULTS: Thirteen first-year medical students and 19 nephrologists participated. Intra- and inter-rater agreement for determination of static knowledge concepts were 1.0 and 0.90, respectively. Reliability across cases was 0.45. The proportions of nephrologists and students identified as having expert-type knowledge structure were 82.9% and 55.8%, respectively (p=0.001). Sensitivity and specificity of ConSort((c)) in predicting concepts that were used during diagnostic reasoning were 96.8% and 27.8% for nephrologists and 87.2% and 55.1% for students. CONCLUSIONS: ConSort is a reliable, valid and sensitive tool for studying static knowledge structure. The applicability of tools that evaluate static knowledge structure should be explored as an addition to existing tools that evaluate dynamic tasks such as diagnostic reasoning.

Alberta↗