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August 2004, Vol 94, No. 8 | American Journal of Public Health 1293-1294
© 2004 American Public Health Association

LETTER

VALENTE ET AL. RESPOND

Thomas W. Valente, PhD, Beth R. Hoffman, MPH, Annamara Ritt-Olson, MA, Kara Lichtman, MA and C. Anderson Johnson, PhD

The authors are with the Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Alhambra.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Thomas W. Valente, PhD, Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1000 Fremont Ave, Building A, Room 5133, Alhambra, CA 91803 (e-mail: tvalente{at}usc.edu).

We deeply regret failing to reference Wiist and colleagues’ prior research on the use of social-network techniques for selecting leaders and creating work groups in a school-based study. We apologize to them and to the field for this omission. We are glad that our results confirmed their work and that we are following up on their call to further investigate this approach. Indeed, a small body of research is beginning to accumulate on the use of social-network techniques for designing and implementing health promotion interventions. Studies among substance users,1,2 physicians,3,4 and employees5 also suggest that social network approaches to health promotion may be quite beneficial. Wiist and colleagues’ early study was insightful, and we hope that our work further stimulates research into the many ways social network analysis can enhance the public’s health.

References

1. Broadhead RS, Heckathorn DD, Weakliem DL, et al. Harnessing peer networks as an instrument for AIDS prevention: results from a peer-driven intervention. Public Health Rep. 1998;113(suppl 1):42–57.[Medline]

2. Latkin CA. Outreach in natural settings: the use of peer leaders for HIV prevention among injecting drug users’ networks. Public Health Rep. 1998;113(suppl 1):151–159.[Medline]

3. Lomas J, Enkin M, Anderson GM, Hannah WJ, Vayda E, Singer J. Opinion leaders vs audit and feedback to implement practice guidelines. Delivery after previous cesarean section. JAMA. 1991;265:2202–2207.[Abstract]

4. Soumerai SB, McLaughlin TJ, Gurwitz JH, et al. Effect of local medical opinion leaders on quality of care for acute myocardial infarction: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 1998;279:1358–1363.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

5. Buller DB, Morrill C, Taren D, et al. Randomized trial testing the effect of peer education at increasing fruit and vegetable intake. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999;91:1491–1500.[Abstract/Free Full Text]





This Article
Right arrow Extract Freely available
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Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Valente, T. W.
Right arrow Articles by Johnson, C. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Valente, T. W.
Right arrow Articles by Johnson, C. A.
Related Collections
Right arrow Tobacco Control
Right arrow Adolescent Health
Right arrow School Health
Right arrow Health Promotion
Right arrow Health Education

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