Table 6.

The criteria for selection and characteristics of the three types of social networks for condition management

Type of social network	Criteria for inclusion	Centrality of ties	Family role in health management	Health‐care professional role in health management	Friend role in health management
Family‐focused health network (n = 17)	Family members outnumbered friends and health‐care professionals	Predominantly multiple family members. For some participants, their GP was also central	Multiple family members had significant roles in supporting the individual	Health‐care professionals were important, but family members were normally consulted first	Friends were less important in management. Were a source of potential support
Friend‐focused health network (n = 4)	Friends outnumbered family and health‐care professionals	Friends, family and GP	Important for instrumental support for younger participants, in particular parents and siblings. For older participants, family was less relevant because of emotional and physical distance. Yet these networks were characterized by a physical, instrumental or emotional absence of family support	GP has a significant role but other health‐care professionals do not	Friends are important in providing support. Differs to family focused health network as friends are a central source of support
Health‐care professional‐focused health network (n = 5)	Health‐care professionals outnumbered other network members	Multiple health‐care professionals. Few family members identified	Few family members identified. Primarily partner	Very significant role. The participants referred to multiple health‐care providers including GPs, nurses and specialists	Friends were not identified as significant