Social Capital in Care for Complex Patients: A Pilot Study to Develop an Instrument for Measuring the Impact of Social Capital in Healthcare in Croatia

Abstract

Background: The increasing complexity of patient care demands coordinated and integrated approaches involving multiple health and social care professionals. Social capital among professionals plays a critical role in facilitating effective collaboration and continuity of care for complex patients.

Objectives: This pilot study aimed to develop and test an instrument based on the position generator method to measure perceived, potential, and activated social capital for patients within professional networks involved in complex patient care in Croatia.

Methods: The instrument enabled differentiation between the existence of professional connections and their actual mobilization for patient benefit. This multidimensional approach, including activation levels for patient needs, marks a key improvement over earlier measures.

Results: Results indicated that while professionals possess broad networks, the activation of these networks for patient care remains limited. Accumulated work experience is positively associated with greater activation of social capital, whereas formal changes in the work environment showed no significant impact.

Conclusions: Despite sample limitations restricting generalizability, the instrument demonstrated sensitivity and applicability for mapping professional networks in healthcare settings. This study lays the groundwork for further research with larger samples to validate the instrument and support the development of coordinated care systems leveraging social capital for improved outcomes in complex patient care.

Keywords: care for complex patients; position generator; professionals; social capital.

Figure 1

Descriptive indicators of social capital indices.