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Blanken M, Mathijssen J, van Nieuwenhuizen C, Raab J, van Oers H. Examining preconditions for integrated care: a comparative social network analysis of the structure and dynamics of strong relations in child service networks. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:1146. [PMID: 37875928 PMCID: PMC10598897 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10128-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To help ensure that children and families get the right support and services at the right time, strong and stable relationships between various child service organizations are vital. Moreover, strong and stable relationships and a key network position for gatekeepers are important preconditions for interprofessional collaboration, the timely and appropriate referral of clients, and improved health outcomes. Gatekeepers are organizations that have specific legal authorizations regarding client referral. However, it is largely unclear how strong relations in child service networks are structured, whether the gatekeepers have strong and stable relationships, and what the critical relations in the overall structure are. The aim of this study is to explore these preconditions for integrated care by examining the internal structure and dynamics of strong relations. METHODS A comparative case study approach and social network analysis of three inter-organizational networks consisting of 65 to 135 organizations within the Dutch child service system. Multiple network measures (number of active organizations, isolates, relations, average degree centrality, Lambda sets) were used to examine the strong relation structure and dynamics of the networks. Ucinet was used to analyze the data, with use of the statistical test: Quadratic Assignment Procedure. Visone was used to visualize the graphs of the networks. RESULTS This study shows that more than 80% of the organizations in the networks have strong relations. A striking finding is the extremely high number of strong relations that gatekeepers need to maintain. Moreover, the results show that the most important gatekeepers have key positions, and their strong relations are relatively stable. By contrast, considering the whole network, we also found a considerable measure of instability in strong relationships, which means that child service networks must cope with major internal dynamics. CONCLUSIONS Our study addressed crucial preconditions for integrated care. The extremely high number of strong relations that particularly gatekeepers need to build and maintain, in combination with the considerable instability of strong relations considering the whole network, is a serious point of concern that need to be managed, in order to enable child service networks to improve internal coordination and integration of service delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariëlle Blanken
- TRANZO - Scientific center for care and wellbeing, Tilburg University, 5000 LE, Tilburg, PO BOX 90153, the Netherlands.
| | - Jolanda Mathijssen
- TRANZO - Scientific center for care and wellbeing, Tilburg University, 5000 LE, Tilburg, PO BOX 90153, the Netherlands
| | - Chijs van Nieuwenhuizen
- TRANZO - Scientific center for care and wellbeing, Tilburg University, 5000 LE, Tilburg, PO BOX 90153, the Netherlands
| | - Jörg Raab
- Department of Organization Studies, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, NL-5000 LE, Tilburg, P.O. Box 90153, The Netherlands
| | - Hans van Oers
- TRANZO - Scientific center for care and wellbeing, Tilburg University, 5000 LE, Tilburg, PO BOX 90153, the Netherlands
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Blanken M, Mathijssen J, van Nieuwenhuizen C, Raab J, van Oers H. Intersectoral collaboration at a decentralized level: information flows in child welfare and healthcare networks. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:449. [PMID: 35387661 PMCID: PMC8985329 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-07810-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As needs of families with social and behavioral health problems often exceed the expertise and possibilities of a single professional, service or organization, cross-service collaboration is indispensable to adequately meeting those needs. Despite the progressive focus on organizing integrated care, service fragmentation and service duplication remain persistent problems in child welfare and healthcare service delivery systems. A crucial factor to overcome these problems is information exchange between organizations. This study explores and compares the development over time of structures of information exchange in networks, concerning both material and knowledge-based information. Methods A comparative case study and social network analysis of three inter-organizational networks of child welfare and healthcare services in different-sized municipalities in the Netherlands. The research population consisted of organizations from various sectors participating in the networks. Data were collected at two moments in time with a mixed method: semi-structured interviews with network managers and an online questionnaire for all network members. Density and degree centralization were used to examine the information exchange structures. Ucinet was used to analyze the data, with use of the statistical tests: Compare Density Procedure and Quadratic Assignment Procedure. Results This study shows that different structures of information exchange can be distinguished, concerning both material and knowledge-based information. The overall connectedness of the studied structures of the networks are quite similar, but the way in which the involvement is structured turns out to be different between the networks. Over time, the overall connectedness of those structures appears to be stable, but the internal dynamics reveals a major change in relationships between organizations in the networks. Conclusions Our study yields empirical evidence for the existence of and the differences between structures and dynamics of both material and knowledge-based information exchange relationships. With a loss of more than a half of the relations in a year, the relationships between the organizations in the network are not very stable over time. The contrast between major internal dynamics and the stable overall connectedness is an important point of concern for network managers and public officials, since this impermanence of relations means that long-term integrated care cannot be guaranteed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariëlle Blanken
- Tilburg University, TRANZO - Scientific center for care and wellbeing, PO BOX 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
| | - Jolanda Mathijssen
- Tilburg University, TRANZO - Scientific center for care and wellbeing, PO BOX 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Chijs van Nieuwenhuizen
- Tilburg University, TRANZO - Scientific center for care and wellbeing, PO BOX 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Jörg Raab
- Tilburg University, Department of Organization Studies, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, PO BOX 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Hans van Oers
- Tilburg University, TRANZO - Scientific center for care and wellbeing, PO BOX 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands
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Blanken M, Mathijssen J, van Nieuwenhuizen C, Raab J, van Oers H. Cross-sectoral collaboration: comparing complex child service delivery systems. J Health Organ Manag 2022; 36:79-94. [DOI: 10.1108/jhom-07-2021-0281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PurposeTo help ensure that children with social and behavioral health problems get the support services they need, organizations collaborate in cross-sectoral networks. In this article, the authors explore and compare the structure of these complex child service delivery networks in terms of differentiation (composition) and integration (interconnection). In particular, the authors investigate the structure of client referral and identify which organizations are most prominent within that network structure and could therefore fulfill a coordinating role.Design/methodology/approach The authors used a comparative case study approach and social network analysis on three interorganizational networks consisting of 65 to 135 organizations within the Dutch child service delivery system. Semi-structured interviews with the network managers were conducted, and an online questionnaire was sent out to the representatives of all network members.Findings The networks are similarly differentiated into 11 sectors with various tasks. Remarkably, network members have contact with an average of 20–26 organizations, which is a fairly high number to be handled successfully. In terms of integration, the authors found a striking diversity in the structures of client referral and not all organizations with a gatekeeper task hold central positions.Originality/value Due to the scarcity of comparative whole network research in the field, the strength of this study is a deeper understanding of the differentiation and integration of complex child service delivery systems. These insights are crucial in order to deliver needed services and to minimize service silos and fragmentation.
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Cloin M, Mathijssen J, Blaauw E. When opinions differ: the development of a reflection tool for youth professionals to support shared decision-making with parents. Eur J Soc Work 2022; 26:389-400. [PMID: 37006454 PMCID: PMC10061805 DOI: 10.1080/13691457.2022.2040436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The importance of shared decision-making (SDM) in youth care is increasingly emphasised. Professional reflection on the decision-making process is an important means to improve the use of SDM in practice. In this study, we report on the development of a reflection tool for youth professionals primarily to use when they hold a different opinion then parents about referral to specialised youth care services. In co-creation with local youth professionals and parent representatives from the South of the Netherlands, the tool was developed and tested in practice. This process was guided by a three-stage cyclical research project. First, reflective group discussions provided an initial understanding of professionals' needs, interests and experiences. This input then was analysed and documented into a draft tool with reflective questions. Next, this tool was tested on fictive and real life cases and adjusted with input from youth professionals and parents. This process resulted in an online reflection tool covering 16 overarching reflective questions to support youth professionals' reflection on their shared decision-making in practice. The tool can be used and adapted by others in the field of youth care to improve the process of making shared decisions with parents in complex cases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Eva Blaauw
- Avans University of Applied Science, BredaNetherlands
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Theuns-Boumans L, Mathijssen J, Rots-de Vries C, van de Goor I. Survey of intention among public health nurses in providing solution-focused parenting support. Public Health Nurs 2021; 39:643-651. [PMID: 34897767 PMCID: PMC9300147 DOI: 10.1111/phn.13032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Objective Parenting support has shifted from a problem‐focused to a strengths‐based solution‐focused approach. This study surveyed public health nurses to explain their intention to provide solution‐focused parenting support in their practice. Design The design of this study was cross‐sectional. Sample The initial sample included 781 public health nurses who were employed with various youth healthcare organizations in the Netherlands. Measurements Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, a questionnaire was developed and administered to measure (a) behavioral, normative, and control beliefs, (b) attitudes, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control, and (c) intention. The data were subjected to structural equation modeling. Results A total of 449 (57.5%) public health nurses completed questionnaires. Associations as indicated by the Theory of Planned Behavior were confirmed with the exception of that between perceived behavioral control and intention. Statistically significant paths and correlations were added. The final model accounted for 53% of the variance in the intention to perform solution‐focused parenting support. Conclusions In this study, public health nurses strongly intended to provide solution‐focused parenting support, thus indicating their acceptance of the approach. Their intention was predominantly associated with subjective norm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liesbeth Theuns-Boumans
- Department Tranzo, Academic Collaborative Centre Youth, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.,Avans University of Applied Sciences, Bachelor of Nursing, Breda, The Netherlands
| | - Jolanda Mathijssen
- Department Tranzo, Academic Collaborative Centre Youth, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Carin Rots-de Vries
- Department Tranzo, Tilburg University, Academic Collaborative Centre Public Health, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Ien van de Goor
- Department Tranzo, Tilburg University, Academic Collaborative Centre Public Health, Tilburg, The Netherlands
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Pijl EK, Vanneste YTM, de Rijk AE, Feron FJM, Mathijssen J. The prevalence of sickness absence among primary school pupils - reason to be worried? BMC Public Health 2021; 21:170. [PMID: 33472603 PMCID: PMC7816510 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10193-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Absence from school can lead to lower educational achievement and poor health. Little is known about school absence in primary education. This study's first aim was to examine the prevalence of school absence in primary schools and differing types of absence, including sickness absence. The second aim was to determine which pupil characteristics and types of absence were associated with extensive sickness absence. METHODS The school absence registries for the school year 2015-2016 were analysed retrospectively in eight mainstream primary schools with 2216 pupils, and six schools for special primary education with 1000 pupils in the West-Brabant region of the Netherlands. Descriptive analyses, χ2-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests and logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS The one-year prevalence of school absence was 85% in mainstream primary schools and 79% in special schools. Sickness absence was the most prevalent type of absence, occurring in 75 and 71% of pupils, respectively The prevalence of extensive sickness absence was 13 and 23%, respectively. In mainstream schools, extensive sickness absence was associated with a young age, low parental educational level, more doctor's visits and unauthorised absence, and in special schools with more doctor's visits, other authorised absence, tardiness and unauthorised absence. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of extensive sickness absence was high, and as this was associated with other types of absence, these pupils missed even more days of school. Public health research, policy and practice should address sickness absence among primary school pupils, to prevent adverse effects on children's development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Karen Pijl
- Child and Youth Healthcare Department, GGD West-Brabant, Breda, The Netherlands. .,Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Angelique Eveline de Rijk
- Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Frans Joseph Maria Feron
- Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jolanda Mathijssen
- Academic Collaborative Centre Youth, Tranzo, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
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Brouwers EPM, Mathijssen J, Van Bortel T, Knifton L, Wahlbeck K, Van Audenhove C, Kadri N, Chang C, Goud BR, Ballester D, Tófoli LF, Bello R, Jorge-Monteiro MF, Zäske H, Milaćić I, Uçok A, Bonetto C, Lasalvia A, Thornicroft G, Van Weeghel J. Discrimination in the workplace, reported by people with major depressive disorder: a cross-sectional study in 35 countries. BMJ Open 2016; 6:e009961. [PMID: 26908523 PMCID: PMC4769412 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Whereas employment has been shown to be beneficial for people with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) across different cultures, employers' attitudes have been shown to be negative towards workers with MDD. This may form an important barrier to work participation. Today, little is known about how stigma and discrimination affect work participation of workers with MDD, especially from their own perspective. We aimed to assess, in a working age population including respondents with MDD from 35 countries: (1) if people with MDD anticipate and experience discrimination when trying to find or keep paid employment; (2) if participants in high, middle and lower developed countries differ in these respects; and (3) if discrimination experiences are related to actual employment status (ie, having a paid job or not). METHOD Participants in this cross-sectional study (N=834) had a diagnosis of MDD in the previous 12 months. They were interviewed using the Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC-12). Analysis of variance and generalised linear mixed models were used to analyse the data. RESULTS Overall, 62.5% had anticipated and/or experienced discrimination in the work setting. In very high developed countries, almost 60% of respondents had stopped themselves from applying for work, education or training because of anticipated discrimination. Having experienced workplace discrimination was independently related to unemployment. CONCLUSIONS Across different countries and cultures, people with MDD very frequently reported discrimination in the work setting. Effective interventions are needed to enhance work participation in people with MDD, focusing simultaneously on decreasing stigma in the work environment and on decreasing self-discrimination by empowering workers with MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- E P M Brouwers
- Department of Tranzo, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - J Mathijssen
- Department of Tranzo, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - T Van Bortel
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
| | - L Knifton
- Mental Health Foundation, Glasgow, UK
| | - K Wahlbeck
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Vaasa, Finland
| | | | - N Kadri
- Ibn Rushd University Psychiatric Centre, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Ch Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, Chi Mei Medical Centre, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - B R Goud
- St John's Medical College Hospital, St John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - D Ballester
- Sistema de Saúde Mãe de Deus, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - L F Tófoli
- Universidade Federal do Ceara, Campus Sobral, Brazil
| | - R Bello
- Hospital Universitario de Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela
| | | | - H Zäske
- Heinrich-Heine Universitat Dusseldorf, Rheinische Kliniken Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - I Milaćić
- Faculty for Special Education and Rehabilitation, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - A Uçok
- Foundation of Psychiatry Clinic of Medical Faculty of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - C Bonetto
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - A Lasalvia
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - G Thornicroft
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
| | - J Van Weeghel
- Department of Tranzo, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
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Rombouts M, Van Brussel I, Mathijssen J, Ammi R, Roth L, De Meyer G, Cools N, Fransen E, De Winter B, Schrijvers D. Uncovering mouse immune cell dynamics in blood and tissue reservoirs during atherogenesis: implications for therapeutic intervention? Atherosclerosis 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2015.10.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Janssen M, Mathijssen J, van Bon – Martens M, van Oers H, Garretsen H. Social marketing as a tool for alcohol prevention for Dutch adolescents 12 – 18 years. Eur J Public Health 2013. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckt126.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Mathijssen J, Janssen M, van Bon-Martens M, van Oers H, de Boer E, Garretsen H. Adolescent audience segmentation on alcohol attitudes: parent-adolescent relationship, parents’ attitude towards alcohol consumption and adolescent alcohol use. Eur J Public Health 2013. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckt123.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Mathijssen J, Janssen M, van Bon-Martens M, van de Goor I. Adolescents and alcohol: an explorative audience segmentation analysis. BMC Public Health 2012; 12:742. [PMID: 22950946 PMCID: PMC3490719 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2012] [Accepted: 08/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background So far, audience segmentation of adolescents with respect to alcohol has been carried out mainly on the basis of socio-demographic characteristics. In this study we examined whether it is possible to segment adolescents according to their values and attitudes towards alcohol to use as guidance for prevention programmes. Methods A random sample of 7,000 adolescents aged 12 to 18 was drawn from the Municipal Basic Administration (MBA) of 29 Local Authorities in the province North-Brabant in the Netherlands. By means of an online questionnaire data were gathered on values and attitudes towards alcohol, alcohol consumption and socio-demographic characteristics. Results We were able to distinguish a total of five segments on the basis of five attitude factors. Moreover, the five segments also differed in drinking behavior independently of socio-demographic variables. Conclusions Our investigation was a first step in the search for possibilities of segmenting by factors other than socio-demographic characteristics. Further research is necessary in order to understand these results for alcohol prevention policy in concrete terms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanda Mathijssen
- Tranzo Department, Academic Collaborative Centre for Public Health Brabant, Tilburg University, Post Office Box 90153 5000, Tilburg, LE, The Netherlands.
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