The Connectedness of Mental Health Providers Referring Patients to a Treatment Study for Post-Traumatic Stress: A Social Network Study

Abstract

We conducted a process evaluation in the context of a Hybrid Type 1 randomized controlled trial testing two treatments for post-traumatic stress, using a web-based social network survey and semi-structured interviews to illustrate the relationship between providers’ influence and likelihood of referring patients to the RCT. Providers with high indegree centrality (designated by other providers as someone they seek information from) were significantly more likely to refer patients to the RCT, and serve as an influence to others’ referral behavior. Interviews provided additional data to consider for future studies aimed at increasing the uptake of evidence-based practices.