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Published VersionCC BY-NC V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
The need for a complex systems approach in rural health research
BMJ Open, Vol.12, pp.1-11
2022
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.
Details
- Title
- The need for a complex systems approach in rural health research
- Authors
- Adam Hulme (Corresponding Author) - The University of QueenslandJason Thompson (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems ScienceAndrew Brown (Author) - Deakin UniversityGeoff Argus (Author) - The University of Queensland
- Publication details
- BMJ Open, Vol.12, pp.1-11
- Publisher
- BMJ Group
- Date published
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064646
- ISSN
- 2044-6055
- Copyright note
- This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.
- Organisation Unit
- Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99680498602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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