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Sultana M, Nichols M, Jacobs J, Karacabeyli D, Allender S, Novotny R, Brown V. The range of outcomes and outcome measurement instruments collected in multisectoral community-based obesity prevention interventions in children: A systematic review. Obes Rev 2024; 25:e13731. [PMID: 38432682 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Multicomponent and multisectoral community-based interventions (CBIs) have proven potential in preventing overweight and obesity in children. Synthesizing evidence on the outcomes collected and reported in such CBIs is critical for the evidence of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. This systematic review aimed to identify the range of outcomes and outcome measurement instruments collected and reported in multisectoral and multicomponent CBIs for obesity prevention in children. A systematic search updated an existing review and extended the search to 11 academic databases (2017-2023) and gray literature. Outcomes were classified into outcome domains, and common measurement instruments were summarized. Seventeen outcome domains from 140 unique outcomes were identified from 45 included interventions reported in 120 studies. The most frequently collected outcome domains included anthropometry and body composition (91% of included interventions), physical activity (84%), dietary intake (71%), environmental (71%), and sedentary behavior (62%). The most frequently collected outcomes from each of these domains included body mass index (89%), physical activity (73%), fruit and vegetable intake (58%), school environment (42%), and screen time (58%). Outcome measurement instruments varied, particularly for behavioral outcomes. Standardization of reported outcomes and measurement instruments is recommended to facilitate data harmonization and support quantifying broader benefits of CBIs for obesity prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marufa Sultana
- Deakin Health Economics, Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melanie Nichols
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jane Jacobs
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Derin Karacabeyli
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Steven Allender
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rachel Novotny
- Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - Vicki Brown
- Deakin Health Economics, Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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Pope KJ, Lightfoot AF, Harrison LM, Getz D, Gittelsohn J, Ward D, Hannon TS, Erinosho T. Listening to the community: identifying obesity prevention strategies for rural preschool-aged children. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1372890. [PMID: 38883193 PMCID: PMC11177876 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1372890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Multi-level interventions promoting healthy weight in rural preschool children aged 2-5 years are limited. With the goal of developing a community-informed obesity prevention intervention for rural preschool-aged children, the purpose of this descriptive study was to identify: (1) community settings and intervention strategies to prioritize for an intervention; (2) potential implementation challenges and solutions; and (3) immediate interventions the study team and community partners could collaboratively implement. Workshops occurred in two rural communities in Indiana (2 workshops) and North Carolina (2 workshops), with high obesity rates. A guide was developed to moderate discussions and participants voted to rank community settings and intervention strategies. There were 9-15 participants per workshop, including parents, childcare providers, and representatives of community organizations. Community settings identified as priorities for child obesity prevention included the home, educational settings (preschools), food outlets, recreational facilities, and social media. Priority intervention strategies included providing nutrition and physical activity education, increasing access to healthy foods and physical activity in the built environment, and enhancing food security. Potential intervention implementation challenges centered on poor parental engagement; using personalized invitations and providing transportation support to families were proffered solutions. Immediate interventions to collaboratively implement focused on making playgrounds esthetically pleasing for physical activity using game stencils, and nutrition education for families via quarterly newsletters. This participatory approach with community partners provided insight into two rural communities' needs for child obesity prevention, community assets (settings) to leverage, and potential intervention strategies to prioritize. Findings will guide the development of a multi-level community-based intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Jochim Pope
- Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Alexandra F Lightfoot
- Department of Health Behavior, North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | | | - Deborah Getz
- Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Joel Gittelsohn
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Dianne Ward
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Tamara S Hannon
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Temitope Erinosho
- Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
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Yoong SL, Brown AD, Leung GKW, Hillenaar M, David JL, Hayward J, Strugnell C, Bell C, Brown V, Jackson M, Allender S. A protocol of a pilot randomised trial (Action-RESPOND) to support rural and regional communities with implementing community-based systems thinking obesity prevention initiatives. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302047. [PMID: 38696541 PMCID: PMC11065269 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over a quarter of children aged 2-17 years living in Australia are overweight or obese, with a higher prevalence reported in regional and remote communities. Systems thinking approaches that seek to support communities to generate and implement locally appropriate solutions targeting intertwined environmental, political, sociocultural, and individual determinants of obesity have the potential to ameliorate this. There have however been reported challenges with implementation of such initiatives, which may be strengthened by incorporating implementation science methods. METHODS This pilot randomised controlled trial protocol outlines the development and proposed evaluation of a multicomponent implementation strategy (Action-RESPOND). to increase the implementation of community-based systems thinking child obesity prevention initiatives The target of this intervention is ten rural and regional communities (or local government areas as the unit of allocation) within Northeast Victoria who were participants in a whole-of-systems intervention (RESPOND). Action-RESPOND builds on this intervention by assessing the impact of offering additional implementation strategies to five communities relative to usual care. The development of the multicomponent implementation strategy was informed by the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) framework and consists of seven implementation strategies primarily delivered via 'facilitation' methods. Implementation strategies aimed to ensure initiatives implemented are i) evidence-based, ii) address community's specific needs and iii) are suitable for local context. Strategies also aimed to increase the community's capacity to implement, through iv) improving the health promotion team's implementation knowledge and skills, fostering v) leadership, vi) physical resources and vii) community culture to drive implementation. The feasibility, acceptability, potential impact, and cost of the strategy will be assessed at baseline and follow up using surveys administered to key representatives within the community and internal records maintained by the research team. DISCUSSION By leveraging an existing community-based whole-of-systems intervention, Action-RESPOND offers a unique opportunity to collect pilot feasibility and early empirical data on how to apply implementation and systems science approaches to support obesity prevention in rural and regional communities in Victoria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sze Lin Yoong
- Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- National Centre of Implementation Science, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew D. Brown
- Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Gloria K. W. Leung
- Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Monique Hillenaar
- Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Jennifer L. David
- Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Josh Hayward
- Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Claudia Strugnell
- Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Institute for Phaysical Activity and Nutrition, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Colin Bell
- Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Vicki Brown
- Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Deakin Health Economics, Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Michelle Jackson
- Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Steven Allender
- Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
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Koorts H, Ma J, Swain CTV, Rutter H, Salmon J, Bolton KA. Systems approaches to scaling up: a systematic review and narrative synthesis of evidence for physical activity and other behavioural non-communicable disease risk factors. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2024; 21:32. [PMID: 38515118 PMCID: PMC10958859 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-024-01579-6] [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: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of death worldwide. Systems approaches have potential for creating sustainable outcomes at scale but have rarely been used to support scale up in physical activity/nutrition promotion or NCD prevention more generally. This review aimed to: (i) synthesise evidence on the use of systems approaches in scaling up interventions targeting four behavioural risk factors for NCDs; and (ii) to explore how systems approaches have been conceptualised and used in intervention implementation and scale up. METHOD Seven electronic databases were searched for studies published 2016-2021. Eligible studies targeted at least one of four NCD behavioural risk factors (physical inactivity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, diet), or described evaluation of an intervention planned for or scaled up. Studies were categorised as having a (i) high, (ii) moderate, or (iii) no use of a systems approach. A narrative synthesis of how systems approaches had been operationalised in scale up, following PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS Twenty-one intervention studies were included. Only 19% (n = 4) of interventions explicitly used systems thinking to inform intervention design, implementation and scale up (targeting all four risk factors n = 2, diet n = 1, tobacco use n = 1). Five studies ('high use') planned and implemented scale up with an explicit focus on relations between system elements and used system changes to drive impact at scale. Seven studies ('moderate use') considered systems elements impacting scale-up processes or outcomes but did not require achieving system-level changes from the outset. Nine studies ('no use') were designed to work at multiple levels among multiple agencies in an intervention setting, but the complexity of the system and relations between system elements was not articulated. We synthesised reported barriers and facilitators to scaling up, and how studies within each group conceptualised and used systems approaches, and methods, frameworks and principles for scaling up. CONCLUSION In physical activity research, and NCD prevention more broadly, the use of systems approaches in scale up remains in its infancy. For researchers, practitioners and policymakers wishing to adopt systems approaches to intervention implementation at scale, guidance is needed on how to communicate and operationalise systems approaches in research and in practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO (CRD42021287265).
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Affiliation(s)
- Harriet Koorts
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood Geelong, VIC, 3125, Australia.
| | - Jiani Ma
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood Geelong, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Christopher T V Swain
- Cancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Harry Rutter
- Department of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, UK
| | - Jo Salmon
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood Geelong, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Kristy A Bolton
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood Geelong, VIC, 3125, Australia
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Heinze C, Hartmeyer RD, Sidenius A, Ringgaard LW, Bjerregaard AL, Krølner RF, Allender S, Bauman A, Klinker CD. Developing and Evaluating a Data-Driven and Systems Approach to Health Promotion Among Vocational Students: Protocol for the Data Health Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2024; 13:e52571. [PMID: 38319698 PMCID: PMC10879971 DOI: 10.2196/52571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vocational school students exhibit significant risk behaviors in terms of poor diet, frequent use of nicotine products, inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, low levels of physical activity, and poor mental health. This makes vocational students vulnerable to the development of noncommunicable diseases. Therefore, effective health promotion programs targeting vocational students are required. OBJECTIVE The Danish study "Data-driven and Systems Approach to Health Promotion Among Vocational Students" (Data Health) aims to develop, implement, and evaluate a systems approach to support vocational schools, municipalities, and local communities in implementing locally relevant health promotion actions among and for vocational students. This paper describes the Data Health program and how implementation and preliminary effectiveness will be evaluated. METHODS The Data Health program offers an iterative 5-step process to develop changes in the systems that shape health behavior and well-being among vocational students. The program will be implemented and evaluated in 8 Danish vocational schools in 4 municipalities. The implementation of the process and actions will be explored using a systems-based evaluation design that assesses contextual differences and the mechanisms through which the program leads to changes in the systems. Preliminary effectiveness at the individual level (students' self-reported health behavior and well-being) and organizational level (school organizational readiness reported by school staff) will be assessed using a quasi-experimental design, and cross-sectional data will be collected at all 8 schools simultaneously 4 times during the 2-year study period. RESULTS This study was launched in 2021, and data collection is expected to be completed in June 2024. The first results are expected to be submitted for publication in January 2024. CONCLUSIONS We expect that the Data Health study will make significant contributions to complex intervention research by contributing to the paucity of research studies that have used systems approaches in school settings. The study will also provide evidence of successful elements for systems change and effectiveness to determine whether a national scale-up can be recommended. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05308459; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05308459. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/52571.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Heinze
- Department of Prevention, Health Promotion and Community Care, Copenhagen University Hospital - Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rikke Dalgaard Hartmeyer
- Department of Prevention, Health Promotion and Community Care, Copenhagen University Hospital - Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Anne Sidenius
- Department of Prevention, Health Promotion and Community Care, Copenhagen University Hospital - Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Lene Winther Ringgaard
- Department of Prevention, Health Promotion and Community Care, Copenhagen University Hospital - Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
| | | | | | - Steven Allender
- Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Adrian Bauman
- Department of Prevention, Health Promotion and Community Care, Copenhagen University Hospital - Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
- School of Public Health, Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Charlotte Demant Klinker
- Department of Prevention, Health Promotion and Community Care, Copenhagen University Hospital - Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
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Pyke K, Palermo C, Kleve S. The role of collective impact in improving nutrition. A scoping review. Nutr Diet 2024; 81:28-34. [PMID: 37331724 DOI: 10.1111/1747-0080.12831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Collective impact is gaining traction to improve population health outcomes. This study aimed to determine where and how collective impact is being used in nutrition and describe current understandings of its impacts or results on health or nutrition outcomes. METHODS A systematic scoping review was undertaken with four databases ('CINAHL Plus', 'Sociological Abstracts', 'PsychInfo', and 'OVID Medline') using the search term 'Collective Impact' from 2011 up to November 2022. All studies were screened independently by two authors. Data were extracted and synthesised narratively. RESULTS A total of 712 different documents were identified, with four studies included in the synthesis. Collective impact approaches focussed on breastfeeding, reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, increasing access to healthy food, and obesity. Across the four included studies, promising results in improving health and nutrition were reported. CONCLUSION Evaluating and reporting on the outcomes of collective impact initiatives in nutrition using robust methods is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Pyke
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Notting Hill, Australia
| | - Claire Palermo
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Notting Hill, Australia
| | - Sue Kleve
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Notting Hill, Australia
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Wheaton N, Alston E, Versace VL, Field M, Wong Shee A, Jacobs J, Backholer K, Allender S, Nichols M, Needham C, Bolton KA, Blake MR, Stewart F, Close E, Alston L. Diet-Related Disease Prevention in a Rural Australian Setting: Understanding Barriers, Enablers, and the Role of Rural Health Services in Supporting Changes in Local Rural Food Environments. Nutrients 2023; 15:4979. [PMID: 38068837 PMCID: PMC10708407 DOI: 10.3390/nu15234979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Bold and comprehensive action is needed to prevent diet-related diseases in rural areas, which includes improving food environments to enable healthier dietary practices. Rural health services are integral to the health of rural populations, yet their role in community disease prevention is not swell understood. This study sought to understand health service, local government, and food outlet stakeholders' perspectives on (1) the drivers of unhealthy retail environments in a rural setting; (2) the role of rural health services in supporting changes in local food environments; and to (3) identify characteristics of potential interventions. Two Group Model Building workshops were held with health service and local government leaders (n = 9), and interviews were conducted with local food outlet participants (n = 13). Key themes included 'enablers to healthier food environments', 'barriers to healthier food environments', 'Rural health services are a leading broker of knowledge for healthy food environments', and 'characteristics of desirable healthy food environment interventions.'. Rural health services can play a key role in addressing the current barriers to healthy food environments in rural areas. Effective promotion of healthier diets in rural populations will require consideration of key stakeholder perspectives and the development of further evidence on the role that rural health services can play in improving the healthiness of food environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Wheaton
- Deakin Rural Health, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Warnambool, VIC 3284, Australia; (V.L.V.); (M.F.); (A.W.S.); (L.A.)
| | - Emily Alston
- Research Unit, Colac Area Health, Colac, VIC 3250, Australia; (E.A.); (F.S.); (E.C.)
| | - Vincent L. Versace
- Deakin Rural Health, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Warnambool, VIC 3284, Australia; (V.L.V.); (M.F.); (A.W.S.); (L.A.)
| | - Michael Field
- Deakin Rural Health, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Warnambool, VIC 3284, Australia; (V.L.V.); (M.F.); (A.W.S.); (L.A.)
- Research Unit, Colac Area Health, Colac, VIC 3250, Australia; (E.A.); (F.S.); (E.C.)
| | - Anna Wong Shee
- Deakin Rural Health, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Warnambool, VIC 3284, Australia; (V.L.V.); (M.F.); (A.W.S.); (L.A.)
- Grampians Health, Ballarat, VIC 3350, Australia
| | - Jane Jacobs
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (J.J.); (K.B.); (S.A.); (M.N.); (C.N.); (K.A.B.); (M.R.B.)
| | - Kathryn Backholer
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (J.J.); (K.B.); (S.A.); (M.N.); (C.N.); (K.A.B.); (M.R.B.)
| | - Steven Allender
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (J.J.); (K.B.); (S.A.); (M.N.); (C.N.); (K.A.B.); (M.R.B.)
| | - Melanie Nichols
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (J.J.); (K.B.); (S.A.); (M.N.); (C.N.); (K.A.B.); (M.R.B.)
| | - Cindy Needham
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (J.J.); (K.B.); (S.A.); (M.N.); (C.N.); (K.A.B.); (M.R.B.)
| | - Kristy A. Bolton
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (J.J.); (K.B.); (S.A.); (M.N.); (C.N.); (K.A.B.); (M.R.B.)
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Miranda R. Blake
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (J.J.); (K.B.); (S.A.); (M.N.); (C.N.); (K.A.B.); (M.R.B.)
| | - Fletcher Stewart
- Research Unit, Colac Area Health, Colac, VIC 3250, Australia; (E.A.); (F.S.); (E.C.)
| | - Evelyn Close
- Research Unit, Colac Area Health, Colac, VIC 3250, Australia; (E.A.); (F.S.); (E.C.)
| | - Laura Alston
- Deakin Rural Health, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Warnambool, VIC 3284, Australia; (V.L.V.); (M.F.); (A.W.S.); (L.A.)
- Research Unit, Colac Area Health, Colac, VIC 3250, Australia; (E.A.); (F.S.); (E.C.)
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Felmingham T, Bolton KA, Fraser P, Allender S, Brown AD. Measuring Shifts in Mental Models in the Prevention of Childhood Obesity in Rural Australia. HEALTH EDUCATION & BEHAVIOR 2023; 50:662-670. [PMID: 37128853 PMCID: PMC10492428 DOI: 10.1177/10901981231165339] [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] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Group model building is a participatory workshop technique used in system dynamics for developing community consensus to address complex problems by consensus building on individual assumptions. This study examines changes in individual mental models of the complex problem of childhood obesity following participation in group model building (GMB), as part of a larger community-based system dynamics project. Data are drawn from GMB participants across six community sites in the Whole of Systems Trial of Prevention Strategies for Childhood Obesity (WHO STOPS) in rural and regional Victoria, Australia. Each community participated in two GMB sessions resulting in a causal loop diagram (CLD) of drivers of childhood obesity for each community. Presurvey and postsurvey captured participants' perspectives before and after (n = 25) participation in both GMB sessions and a blend of inductive and deductive qualitative content analysis was used to code individual responses. Three calculations were used to determine the number of responses, whether responses were a result of persuasion from others, and comparison of responses to those found in the CLD. Our study found participant mental models shifted during the course of the GMB sessions, with some responses persuaded by others and 75% of new insights identified in CLDs created by communities. The GMB process created a platform for participants to share ideas and learn from each other. In addition, participants listed new insights about childhood obesity in their community through developing CLDs.
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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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10
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Vargas C, Hillenaar M, Strugnell C, Allender S, Marks L, Green M, Hargous CV, Jackson M, Bell C, Whelan J. Lived experience of participants who engaged in the co-creation of initiatives to improve children's health in a rural Australian community. Aust J Rural Health 2023; 31:659-669. [PMID: 37200454 PMCID: PMC10946477 DOI: 10.1111/ajr.12996] [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: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe participants' lived experience of co-creating and implementing initiatives to improve children's health. DESIGN This manuscript reports an embedded case study design, which aims to describe participants' lived experiences of co-creating community-based initiatives. Information was gathered from an online survey and two focus groups. The two transcribed discussions from the focus groups were analysed using a 6-step phenomenological process. SETTING Mansfield, Australia, population 4787, is one of ten local government areas (LGA) participating in the Reflexive Evidence and Systems Interventions to Prevent Obesity and Non-communicable Disease (RESPOND) project. PARTICIPANTS Participants were purposively selected from established community groups previously engaged by RESPOND using a co-creation approach. The recruitment for the focus groups was a convenient sampling from participants that provided their email addresses in the online survey. RESULTS Eleven participants completed the online survey. A total of ten participants attended the two focus groups of 1-h duration: five participants in each. Participants reported feeling empowered to create unique, locally relevant and readily adaptable community-wide change. They were supported by a strong partnership that mobilised funding for a part-time health promotion employee. Strengthened social connections were an unexpected though highly valued outcome. CONCLUSION Co-creation processes may assist stakeholders in delivering prevention strategies in ways that are empowering for them, responsive to the changing needs of the community, strengthen organisational partnerships and enhance community participation, social inclusion and engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Vargas
- School of Health and Social Development, Institute for Health TransformationDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Monique Hillenaar
- School of Health and Social Development, Institute for Health TransformationDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Claudia Strugnell
- School of Health and Social Development, Institute for Health TransformationDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Steven Allender
- School of Health and Social Development, Institute for Health TransformationDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Lucy Marks
- Mansfield District HospitalMansfieldVictoriaAustralia
| | - Melanie Green
- Mansfield District HospitalMansfieldVictoriaAustralia
| | - Carolina Venegas Hargous
- School of Medicine, Institute for Health TransformationDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Michelle Jackson
- School of Health and Social Development, Institute for Health TransformationDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Colin Bell
- School of Medicine, Institute for Health TransformationDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Jillian Whelan
- School of Health and Social Development, Institute for Health TransformationDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
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11
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Mavragani A, Holloway TP, Soward R, Patterson KAE, Ahuja KDK, Dalton L, Murray S, Hughes R, Byrne NM, Hills AP. "An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure": Proposal for a Social Prescribing Strategy for Obesity Prevention and Improvement in Health and Well-being. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e41280. [PMID: 36800232 PMCID: PMC9985003 DOI: 10.2196/41280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social and behavioral determinants of health are increasingly recognized as central to effective person-centered intervention in clinical practice, disease management, and public health. Accordingly, social prescribing (SP) has received increased attention in recent times. The rampant global prevalence of obesity indicates that the customary, reductionistic, and disease-oriented biomedical approach to health service delivery is inadequate/ineffective at arresting the spread and mitigating the damaging consequences of the condition. There is an urgent need to shift the focus from reactive downstream disease-based treatments to more proactive, upstream, preventive action. In essence, this requires more effort to affect the paradigm shift from the traditional "biomedical approach of care" to a "biopsychosocial model" required to arrest the increasing prevalence of obesity. To this end, an SP approach, anchored in systems thinking, could be an effective means of moderating prevalence and consequences of obesity at a community level. OBJECTIVE The proposed SP intervention has the following three key objectives: (1) build a sustainable program for Circular Head based on SP, peer education, and health screening to minimize the incidence of obesity and related lifestyle diseases; (2) increase service and workforce connectivity and collaboration and initiate the introduction of new services and activities for obesity prevention and community health promotion; and (3) enhance health and well-being and minimize preventable adverse health outcomes of obesity and related lifestyle diseases through enhancement of food literacy and better nutrition, enhancement of physical literacy and habitual personal activity levels, and improvement of mental health, community connectedness, and reduction of social isolation. METHODS This paper describes a prospective SP strategy aimed at obesity prevention in Circular Head, a local government area in Northwest (NW) Tasmania. SP is a prominent strategy used in the Critical Age Periods Impacting the Trajectory of Obesogenic Lifestyles Project, which is an initiative based in NW Tasmania focused on assessing obesity prevention capacity. A social prescription model that facilitates the linkage of primary health screening with essential health care, education, and community resources through a dedicated "navigator" will be implemented. Four interlinked work packages will be implemented as part of the initial plan with each either building on existing resources or developing new initiatives. RESULTS A multimethod approach to triangulate insights from quantitative and qualitative research that enables the assessment of impact on individuals, community groups, and the health care system will be implemented within the initial pilot phase of the project. CONCLUSIONS Literature is replete with rhetoric advocating complex system approaches to curtail obesity. However, real-life examples of whole-of-systems interventions operationalized in ways that generate relevant evidence or effective policies are rare. The diverse approach for primary prevention of obesity-related lifestyle diseases and strategies for improvement of health and well-being described in this instance will contribute toward closing this evidence gap. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/41280.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timothy P Holloway
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia
| | - Robert Soward
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia
| | - Kira A E Patterson
- College of Arts, Law and Education, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia
| | - Kiran D K Ahuja
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia
| | - Lisa Dalton
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia
| | - Sandra Murray
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia
| | - Roger Hughes
- School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nuala M Byrne
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia
| | - Andrew P Hills
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia
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12
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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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Calancie L, Fair ML, Wills S, Werner K, Appel JM, Moore TR, Hennessy E, Economos CD. Implementing a stakeholder-driven community diffusion-informed intervention to create healthier, more equitable systems: a community case study in Greenville County, South Carolina. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1034611. [PMID: 37213614 PMCID: PMC10196143 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1034611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
This case study describes the application of a theory-informed, stakeholder-driven intervention with a group of 19 multi-sector stakeholders from an existing coalition to promote whole-of-community change that supports childhood obesity prevention. The intervention applied community-based system dynamics to design and implement activities that promoted insights into the systems driving childhood obesity prevalence and helped participants prioritize actions to influence those systems. This led to three new priority areas for the coalition: addressing food insecurity; building power among historically marginalized voices within the community; and supporting advocacy efforts to promote community-wide change beyond the coalition's previous focus on organizational-level policy, systems and environment change. The intervention spurred the application of community-based system dynamics to other health issues and in partner organizations, which demonstrates paradigm shifts about how to address complex public health issues in the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Calancie
- ChildObesity180, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tuft’s University, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Larissa Calancie,
| | - Melissa L. Fair
- Institute for the Advancement of Community Health, Furman University, Greenville, SC, United States
| | - Sally Wills
- LiveWell Greenville, Greenville, SC, United States
| | - Kelsey Werner
- Social System Design Lab, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
- School of Social Work, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Julia M. Appel
- Institute for the Advancement of Community Health, Furman University, Greenville, SC, United States
| | - Travis R. Moore
- ChildObesity180, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tuft’s University, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Community Health, School of Arts and Sciences, Tuft’s University, Medford, MA, United States
| | - Erin Hennessy
- ChildObesity180, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tuft’s University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Christina D. Economos
- ChildObesity180, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tuft’s University, Boston, MA, United States
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14
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O'Halloran S, Hayward J, Strugnell C, Felmingham T, Poorter J, Kilpatrick S, Fraser P, Needham C, Rhook E, DeMaio A, Allender S. Building capacity for the use of systems science to support local government public health planning: a case study of the VicHealth Local Government Partnership in Victoria, Australia. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e068190. [PMID: 36572496 PMCID: PMC9806011 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To present an approach to build capacity for the use of systems science to support local communities in municipal public health and well-being planning. DESIGN Case study. SETTING Local government authorities participating in the VicHealth Local Government Partnership in Victoria, Australia. PARTICIPANTS Local government staff members were trained in community-based system dynamics (CBSD), and group model building (GMB) techniques to mobilise local community efforts. The trained local government facilitation teams then delivered GMB workshops to community stakeholder groups from 13 local government areas (LGA)s. MAIN OUTCOMES Training in CBSD was conducted with council facilitation teams in 13 LGAs, followed by the local delivery of GMB workshops 1-3 to community stakeholders. Causal loop diagrams (CLD) representing localised drivers of mental well-being, healthy eating, active living or general health and well-being of children and young people were developed by community stakeholders. Locally tailored action ideas were generated such as well-being classes in school, faster active transport and access to free and low-cost sporting programmes RESULTS: Overall, 111 local government staff participated in CBSD training. Thirteen CLDs were developed, with the stakeholders that included children, young people and community members, who had participated in the GMB workshops across all 13 council sites. Workshop 3 had the highest total number of participants (n=301), followed by workshop 1 (n=287) and workshop 2 (n=171). CONCLUSIONS Local facilitation of the CBSD process has developed community informed and locally relevant CLDs that will be used to lead local action to improve the well-being of children and young people. Training employees in CBSD is one approach to increase systems thinking capacity within local government.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siobhan O'Halloran
- Global Centre for Preventative Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Joshua Hayward
- Global Centre for Preventative Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Claudia Strugnell
- Global Centre for Preventative Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tiana Felmingham
- Global Centre for Preventative Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jaimie Poorter
- Global Centre for Preventative Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stephanie Kilpatrick
- Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), West Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Penny Fraser
- Global Centre for Preventative Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cindy Needham
- Global Centre for Preventative Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ebony Rhook
- Southern Grampians Glenelg, Barwon Southwest Public Health Unit, Hamilton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alessandro DeMaio
- Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), West Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Steven Allender
- Global Centre for Preventative Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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15
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Hulme A, Thompson J, Brown A, Argus G. The need for a complex systems approach in rural health research. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e064646. [PMID: 36192093 PMCID: PMC9535183 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
On a global scale, many major rural health issues have persisted for decades despite the introduction of new health interventions and public health policies. Although research efforts have generated valuable new knowledge about the aetiology of health, disease and health inequities in rural communities, rural health systems remain to be some of the most deprived and challenged in both the developing and developed world. While the reasons for this are many, a significant factor contributing to the current state of play is the pressing need for methodological innovation and relevant scientific approaches that have the capacity to support the translation of novel solutions into 'real world' rural contexts. Fortunately, complex systems approaches, which have seen an increase in popularity in the wider public health literature, could provide answers to some of the most resilient rural health problems in recent times. The purpose of this article is to promote the value and utility of a complex systems approach in rural health research. We explain the benefits of a complex systems approach and provide a background to the complexity sciences, including the main characteristics of complex systems. Two popular computational methods are described. The next step for rural health research involves exploring how a complex systems approach can help with the identification and evaluation of new and existing solutions to policy-resistant rural health issues. This includes generating awareness around the analytical trade-offs that occur between the use of traditional scientific methods and complex systems approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Hulme
- Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH), Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jason Thompson
- University Department of Rural Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Transport, Health and Urban Design (THUD) Research Laboratory, Melbourne School of Design, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems (CHFSTS), The University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew Brown
- Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Geoff Argus
- Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH), Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
- School of Psychology and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
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Strugnell C, Crooks N, Gaskin CJ, Becker D, Orellana L, Bolton KA, Fraser P, Brown AD, Le H, Bell C, Allender S. Four-Year Accelerometry Outcomes from a Cluster Randomized Whole of Systems Trial of Prevention Strategies for Childhood Obesity. Child Obes 2022. [PMID: 35930254 DOI: 10.1089/chi.2022.0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Background: We investigated the effect of the Whole of Systems Trial of Prevention Strategies for Childhood Obesity (WHO STOPS) intervention on children's objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time (ST). Methods: We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial with children in grades 4 (∼9-10 years old) and grade 6 (∼11-12 years old) from 10 communities in the Great South Coast region of Victoria, Australia. Communities were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive the WHO STOPS intervention in 2015. WHO STOPS was a whole of community systems-based approach to preventing childhood obesity. Outcome data were collected using a repeat cross-sectional design in 2015, 2017, and 2019. Children were asked to wear a hip-mounted accelerometer for 7 days. Age-specific Axis 1 activity counts were converted into duration (minutes/day) spent engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), and ST. Linear mixed regression models were fitted to estimate the effects of the intervention on the three activity outcomes across the study period. Results: Analyses were based on valid accelerometer data from 1406 children (intervention n = 745; control n = 661). Results for MVPA, LPA, and ST were nonsignificant. Between 2015 and 2017, there were positive, but nonsignificant, changes in mean MVPA favoring intervention boys [3.7 minutes/day; 95% confidence interval (CI): -5.7 to 13.1] and girls (5.5 minutes/day; 95% CI: -1.5 to 12.6). By 2019, these effects had attenuated. Conclusions: Although the WHO STOPS intervention did not significantly change activity levels, the magnitudes of the effects on MVPA suggest that further research with whole-of-community interventions in larger samples would be worthwhile. Clinical trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR.org.au) identifier 12616000980437.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Strugnell
- Global Obesity Center (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nic Crooks
- Global Obesity Center (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cadeyrn J Gaskin
- Global Obesity Center (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Denise Becker
- Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Liliana Orellana
- Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kristy A Bolton
- Global Obesity Center (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Penny Fraser
- Global Obesity Center (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew Dwight Brown
- Global Obesity Center (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ha Le
- Global Obesity Center (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.,Deakin Health Economics, Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Colin Bell
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Steven Allender
- Global Obesity Center (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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