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Social networks and risk of delayed hospital arrival after acute stroke

Author

Listed:
  • Amar Dhand

    (Harvard Medical School
    Northeastern University)

  • Douglas Luke

    (Washington University in St. Louis)

  • Catherine Lang

    (Washington University School of Medicine)

  • Michael Tsiaklides

    (Washington University School of Medicine)

  • Steven Feske

    (Harvard Medical School)

  • Jin-Moo Lee

    (Washington University School of Medicine)

Abstract

Arriving rapidly to the hospital after a heart attack or stroke is critical for patients to be within time windows for treatment. Prior research in heart attacks has suggested a paradoxical role of the social environment: those who arrive early are surrounded by nonrelatives, while those who arrive late are surrounded by spouses or family members. Here, we used network methods to more deeply examine the influence of social context in stroke. We examined the relationship of personal social networks and arrival time in 175 stroke patients. Our results confirmed the paradox by showing that small and close-knit personal networks of highly familiar contacts, independent of demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic factors, were related to delay. The closed network structure led to constricted information flow in which patients and close confidants, absent outside perspectives, elected to watch-and-wait. Targeting patients with small, close-knit networks may be one strategy to improve response times.

Suggested Citation

  • Amar Dhand & Douglas Luke & Catherine Lang & Michael Tsiaklides & Steven Feske & Jin-Moo Lee, 2019. "Social networks and risk of delayed hospital arrival after acute stroke," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-09073-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09073-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Hawking, Meredith K.D. & Swinglehurst, Deborah, 2024. "Seeking help for atrial fibrillation: the role of the body in distributed decision making," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).
    2. Alethea Desrosiers & Laura Bond & Morgan Hoffman & Praveen Kumar & Carolyn Schafer & Isha W. Metzger & Alpha Vandi & Miriam Hinton & Theresa S. Betancourt, 2023. "Exploring Naturalistic Diffusion of an Evidence-Based Mental Health Intervention across Peer Networks of Youth in Sierra Leone," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-16, February.
    3. Joo, Won-tak, 2023. "Educational gradient in social network changes at disease diagnosis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    4. Liyuan Wang & Lindsay E. Young & Lynn C. Miller, 2021. "The Structure of Social Support in Confidant Networks: Implications for Depression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-16, August.
    5. Yohei Ishikawa & Toru Hifumi & Mitsuyoshi Urashima, 2020. "Influence of Living Alone or with a Spouse Only on the Short-Term Prognosis in Patients after an Acute Ischemic Stroke," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-10, November.
    6. Kumar, Praveen & Kalra, Naira & Shankar, Anita, 2024. "Role of personal network attributes in adoption of clean stoves among Congolese refugees in Rwanda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    7. Shukla, Prakriti & Lee, Myeong & Whitman, Samantha A. & Pine, Kathleen H., 2022. "Delay of routine health care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A theoretical model of individuals’ risk assessment and decision making," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).

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