While it might have been a relatively easy way of identifying opinion leaders I feel there are other, probably better studied, methods of identifying opinion leaders.
Social network analysis has many tools, although it hasn't been widely used in health services. A brief introduction can be viewed at http://www.orgnet.com/KOL.html. While a more in-depth paper linking opinion leadership with 'social capital' might also be of interest http://gsbwww.uchicago.edu/fac/ronald.burt/research/SCOL.pdf.
I feel 'opinion leadership' has potential in implementation - but using the right tool to identify them is crucial.
Implementation Science
Selection of opinion leaders
7 April 2006
While it might have been a relatively easy way of identifying opinion leaders I feel there are other, probably better studied, methods of identifying opinion leaders.
Social network analysis has many tools, although it hasn't been widely used in health services. A brief introduction can be viewed at http://www.orgnet.com/KOL.html. While a more in-depth paper linking opinion leadership with 'social capital' might also be of interest http://gsbwww.uchicago.edu/fac/ronald.burt/research/SCOL.pdf.
I feel 'opinion leadership' has potential in implementation - but using the right tool to identify them is crucial.
Competing interests
None