The need for a complex systems model of evidence for public health
Accepted version
Peer-reviewed
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Repository DOI
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Authors
Abstract
Despite major investment in both research and policy, many pressing contemporary public health challenges remain. To date, the evidence underpinning responses to these challenges has largely been generated by tools and methods that were developed to answer questions about the effectiveness of clinical interventions, and as such are grounded in linear models of cause and effect. Identification, implementation, and evaluation of effective responses to major public health challenges require a wider set of approaches1,2 and a focus on complex systems.
Description
Keywords
Evidence-Based Practice, Humans, Models, Theoretical, Public Health, Public Health Administration, Systems Analysis
Journal Title
The Lancet
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Journal ISSN
0140-6736
1474-547X
1474-547X
Volume Title
390
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher DOI
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MR/K023187/1)
Wellcome Trust (087636/Z/08/Z)
Economic and Social Research Council (ES/G007462/1)
Wellcome Trust (087636/Z/08/Z)
Economic and Social Research Council (ES/G007462/1)
This work was funded by a grant from The Health Foundation (London, UK) that supported HR, KG, and NS. HR was also supported by the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) North Thames at Bart's Health NHS Trust. LM is supported by the UK Medical Research Council ( MC_UU_12017/14 ) and the Chief Scientist Office ( SPHSU14 ). MW is funded in part by the UK NIHR as Director of its Public Health Research Programme.