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Decker H, Wendel M. Applications of Participatory System Dynamics Methods to Public Health: A Systematic Review. FAMILY & COMMUNITY HEALTH 2023; 46:S6-S21. [PMID: 37696012 DOI: 10.1097/fch.0000000000000369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
System dynamics, and specifically qualitative participatory applications of system dynamics, have potential to benefit public health research, scholarship, and practice. A systematic review was conducted to examine the existing applications of participatory system dynamics (PSD) to public health research. Three databases were searched using unique search terms related to PSD and methodological applications in public health research. A total of 57 unique articles met inclusion criteria and were included for review. The studies included for review were conducted globally and represent a wide breadth of public health issues. The review identified several advantages to adopting PSD methods in public health scholarship and practice. The PSD methods provide innovative frameworks for conceptualizing complex and nuanced public health problems. The participatory nature of PSD allows for increased community engagement and empowerment to address public health problems, as well as to mitigate existing power dynamics between research institutions and marginalized communities that are disproportionately impacted by social and health inequities. Finally, causal loop diagrams developed using PSD methods have unique potential to convey complex concepts to policy makers and interventionists. This systematic review reports evidence for PSD's potential to advance equity in public health research and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hallie Decker
- Health Equity Innovation Hub, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky (Ms Decker); and Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, and Health Equity Innovation Hub, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky (Dr Wendel)
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Felmingham T, O'Halloran S, Poorter J, Rhook E, Needham C, Hayward J, Fraser P, Kilpatrick S, Leahy D, Allender S. Systems thinking in local government: intervention design and adaptation in a community-based study. Health Res Policy Syst 2023; 21:90. [PMID: 37667377 PMCID: PMC10478182 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-023-01034-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systems thinking approaches are increasingly being used by communities to address complex chronic disease. This paper reports on the VicHealth Local Government Partnership (VLGP) which sought to co-create improvements in the health and well-being of children and young people by working with local government in Victoria, Australia. METHODS The VLGP included a series of health promotion modules, aimed at creating policy, programme and practice changes across local government. One of these modules, Connecting the Dots - creating solutions for lasting change, aimed to build capacity for systems thinking in municipal public health and well-being planning across 13 councils. The approach was adapted and data were collected on the stimuli for, and results of, adaptation. RESULTS The council adapted the systems thinking approach to meet geographic characteristics, priority health issue/s and participant target group needs. Adaptions applied to workshop materials, training delivery, existing and new resources, and to align with other community-based approaches. Stimuli for adaptation included the COVID-19 pandemic, needs of children and young people, capacity of council to deliver the workshop series, and time available within the project or for the participant group. CONCLUSIONS Systems thinking was used and adapted by councils to improve the health and well-being of children and young people and increase the voices of children and young people in decision-making. Flexible delivery is critical to ensure communities can adapt the approach to meet local needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiana Felmingham
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, 1 Geringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.
| | - Siobhan O'Halloran
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, 1 Geringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Jaimie Poorter
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, 1 Geringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Ebony Rhook
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, 1 Geringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
- Barwon South West Public Health Unit, Geelong, Australia
| | - Cindy Needham
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, 1 Geringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Joshua Hayward
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, 1 Geringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Penny Fraser
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, 1 Geringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | | | | | - Steven Allender
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, 1 Geringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
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Tracy M, Chong LS, Strully K, Gordis E, Cerdá M, Marshall BDL. A Systematic Review of Systems Science Approaches to Understand and Address Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE 2023; 38:1-17. [PMID: 37358982 PMCID: PMC10213598 DOI: 10.1007/s10896-023-00578-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Purpose We aimed to synthesize insights from systems science approaches applied to domestic and gender-based violence. Methods We conducted a systematic review of systems science studies (systems thinking, group model-building, agent-based modeling [ABM], system dynamics [SD] modeling, social network analysis [SNA], and network analysis [NA]) applied to domestic or gender-based violence, including victimization, perpetration, prevention, and community responses. We used blinded review to identify papers meeting our inclusion criteria (i.e., peer-reviewed journal article or published book chapter that described a systems science approach to domestic or gender-based violence, broadly defined) and assessed the quality and transparency of each study. Results Our search yielded 1,841 studies, and 74 studies met our inclusion criteria (45 SNA, 12 NA, 8 ABM, and 3 SD). Although research aims varied across study types, the included studies highlighted social network influences on risks for domestic violence, clustering of risk factors and violence experiences, and potential targets for intervention. We assessed the quality of the included studies as moderate, though only a minority adhered to best practices in model development and dissemination, including stakeholder engagement and sharing of model code. Conclusions Systems science approaches for the study of domestic and gender-based violence have shed light on the complex processes that characterize domestic violence and its broader context. Future research in this area should include greater dialogue between different types of systems science approaches, consideration of peer and family influences in the same models, and expanded use of best practices, including continued engagement of community stakeholders. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10896-023-00578-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Tracy
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany School of Public Health, State University of New York, 1 University Place, GEC 133, Rensselaer, NY 12144 USA
| | - Li Shen Chong
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222 USA
| | - Kate Strully
- Department of Sociology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222 USA
| | - Elana Gordis
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222 USA
| | - Magdalena Cerdá
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Brandon D. L. Marshall
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main St, Providence, RI 02912 USA
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Felmingham T, Backholer K, Hoban E, Brown AD, Nagorcka-Smith P, Allender S. Success of community-based system dynamics in prevention interventions: A systematic review of the literature. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1103834. [PMID: 37033017 PMCID: PMC10080052 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1103834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Systems thinking approaches are increasingly being used to help communities understand and develop responses to preventing complex health problems. Less is known about how success is characterized and what influences success in these approaches. We present a systematic review of how concepts of success are understood and evaluated in the peer reviewed literature of studies using systems thinking in community prevention. We searched five databases for peer-reviewed literature published between 2000 and 2022, with search terms related to systems thinking, prevention and community. Studies were included if they; reported using community-based systems thinking to prevent a public health problem; described the engagement and empowerment of community members to address a public health issue; and, were published in English. Thirty-four articles were identified from 10 countries. Twenty-one aimed to prevent a chronic disease (e.g., obesity) and 16 measured success using specific tools, 10 of which used semi-structured interviews or surveys. Measures of success included implementation processes, cultural appropriateness, the number or type of actions implemented, effectiveness of community action, and changes in individual thinking or mental models, population health outcomes, data collected, or systems level measures. Implementation factors influencing success included the capacity to engage participants, composition and experience of facilitators, strength of coordination teams, allocation of resources, adaptation to participant feedback, use of multiple systems approaches, workshop process providing time and methods to allow new insights, flexible delivery, and diversity of perspectives. Findings from each of the articles indicated that approaches increased a range of outcomes including community action, strategic thinking, future planning and evaluation, community buy-in, community voice, contribution and leadership, in addition to developing shared visions and goals and creating new, ongoing collaborations, among many others. Measures of success varied, suggesting more empirical reporting of proposed outcomes of system science in communities would be valuable. While the measurement of success in the use of systems thinking in community-based prevention efforts is limited, there are helpful examples we can look to for future measurement of success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiana Felmingham
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: Tiana Felmingham,
| | - Kathryn Backholer
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Hoban
- School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew D. Brown
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Phoebe Nagorcka-Smith
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Steven Allender
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
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