Applied Systems Thinking for Health Systems Research: A Methodological Handbook

Patient safety in health systems has become more and more important as a theme in health research, and so it is not surprising to see a growing interest in applying systems thinking to healthcare. However there is a difficulty - health systems are very complex and constantly adapting to respond to core drivers and fit needs. How do you apply systems thinking in this situation, and what methods are available? National health authorities, international donors and research practitioners need to know the "how-to" of conducting health systems research from a systems thinking perspective.

This book will fill this gap and provide a range of tools that give clear guidance of ways to carry out systems thinking in health, with real-world examples. These methodologies include:

. System dynamics and causal loops
. Network analysis
. Outcome mapping
. Soft systems methodology

And many more.

Written by an international team of experts in health research, this handbook will be essential reading for those working in or researching public health, health policy, health systems, global health, service improvement and innovation in practice.."For those working in the health sector, the relevance and value of systems thinking as a concept is evident. However, operationalization of this concept has been a challenge. With this new book, health researchers have a detailed guide for applying system thinking tools in day-to-day operations to identify and solve issues related to health policy and systems."
Ghaffar Abdul, Executive Director of the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, Switzerland"This book is the first to present practical options for applying systems thinking to understand complexity in health systems. The editors compile an essential collection of practical tools for understanding complex problems and framing research questions, as well as for determining and managing related solutions. Each tool is presented through an accessible summary of the method and the theory upon which it is based, as well as a real-world example. It will be a valuable resource for teaching and practice."
Ligia Paina, PhD, Assistant Professor, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, USA"This keenly-awaited book offers a lucid and comprehensive discussion on how to research complex health systems. Health systems are facing a rapid change and increased complexity, with well-designed solutions often leading to unintended consequences. The book provides invaluable help in navigating this complexity and applying rigorous as well as pragmatic approaches to capturing dynamic interactions between system elements and causal loops. The authors operationalise systems thinking in an accessible style, presenting a menu of sophisticated methods and tools, and providing guidance on how to choose methods that fit the questions asked. This and the examples of practical applications of each method makes this book a key learning resource for health systems researchers, commissioners of research, programme implementers and equally, for any readers with interest in complex social systems."
Dina Balabanova, PhD, Associate Professor, Health Systems/Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK"Recognition of the need to enhance health systems around the world, instead of only focusing on diseases, has grown significantly over past decade or more. Consequently, production of health policy and systems related research also increased. However, going into an era of Sustainable Development Goals, studying and understanding how the national systems function from a systems perspective becomes even more necessary to find adequate remedies or policy solutions. This book will bring immense value to researchers and decision makers as it provides guidance not on "what to do" but rather "how to do" research from a systems thinking perspective. Systems thinking that emphasizes the context, complexity, interconnectedness, and adaptiveness of the health system resulting from feedback loops is gaining more traction within the health systems research field. Therefore, this book is timely to help equip individuals or researchers with practical tools that are expected to empower the field and facilitate greater and more relevant evidence production for better policy making in health."
George Gotsadze, Director, Curatio International Foundation"To ensure that health system research responds to policy priorities and to promote the use of evidence in policy decisions, researchers and health system managers should apply system thinking methods to address problems. This methodological handbook includes variety of essential tools and provides excellent guidance for health system researchers and managers when investigating and resolving complex health systems problems. Given the interconnectedness between health and other systems, the application of the tools included in this handbook is even more important when investigating health systems problems that are linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."
Fadi El-Jardali, Professor of Health Policy and Systems, American University of Beirut, Lebanon