Systems approaches in action

What is the issue?

Since the Prevention Centre was established in 2013, it has shown the value of systems approaches for research into chronic disease prevention. Systems approaches incorporate systems thinking, systems practices and systems science methods, and are useful when dealing with complex problems such as chronic disease.

Having had several years of applying many different systems approaches within a wide range of individual projects, now is the time to reflect on what can be learned from across the different projects.

This project gained a clearer picture of how systems approaches are being used to describe and understand complex problems. We identified, at a deeper level of practice, whether and how systems approaches are being used to create real world change. It identified when and how prevention research uses systems approaches to address issues of complexity, and, based on these findings, what the Prevention Centre and those researching more broadly within the prevention system could do differently to enact systems change.

How did the project address the issue?

This project identified and brought together key lessons from a diverse range of Prevention Centre projects on the use and value of systems thinking, systems practices, and systems science tools in applied prevention research.

We identified up to 10 case studies of former and current Prevention Centre projects that used systems approaches to address complex problems in prevention.

We used comparative case study analysis to understand the utility of systems approaches for addressing complexity as it relates to chronic disease prevention, and whether and how they have sought to bring about change in prevention research, policy or practice.

We used qualitative methods including interviews and group model building to uncover similarities, differences and patterns across our chosen case studies. In doing so we explored the generalisable lessons that can be synthesised across the Prevention Centre that may be of value to others seeking to use systems approaches in prevention research.

Relevance for practice

This research illustrates how researchers, policy makers and practitioners can use systems approaches to better work together to bring about change. It will inform policy makers and funders of the key factors that support the use of effective systems approaches, and when, and in what combination, these approaches are appropriate for prevention research.

This project worked closely with members of the Prevention Centre’s Leadership Executive and our Funding Partners. Our findings are informing the direction of the Prevention Centre’s research into the future.

The findings will also enhance the skills and capacity around the use of systems approaches for those working in chronic disease prevention, policy and practice.

What are the outcomes?

The outcomes of this project are:

• Recommendations and a systems reporting framework relevant for prevention research, policy and practice
• A suite of case illustrations, practice examples and peer review publications
• Practical guidance on how to improve the use of systems approaches for the prevention of chronic disease.