ORCID Profile
0000-0003-2278-7249
Current Organisation
Deakin University
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Publisher: BMJ
Date: 12-2022
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2022-068190
Abstract: 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. Case study. Local government authorities participating in the VicHealth Local Government Partnership in Victoria, Australia. 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. 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 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). 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.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-09-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.AMEPRE.2021.10.006
Abstract: Applying systems science in public health trials is a recent innovation in childhood obesity prevention. This paper aims to use systems science conventions to propose a theory of change for community-based interventions aiming to build capacity and use exemplars from systems science for obesity prevention to describe how this approach works. Participants were community-based researchers. A dynamic hypothesis was created in workshops conducted in 2020 and 2021 by identifying variables critical to building community capacity for systems thinking. These were used to develop stock and flow diagrams representing in idual causal relationships, feedback loops, and the overall theory of change. The resultant model identified 9 stocks and 4 pairs of central balancing and reinforcing feedback loops. These represented building commitment through relationships, mutual learning, strengthening collaboration, and embedding capacity. The model is described using ex les from 3 trials involving 25 communities across Victoria, Australia. This nonlinear and practice-based model illustrates the process of community-based obesity prevention. The model integrates >20 years of community-based intervention implementation experience, providing an overarching theory of how such interventions work to create change and prevent obesity.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 02-05-2023
DOI: 10.1177/10901981231165339
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 in idual assumptions. This study examines changes in in idual 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 in idual 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.
No related grants have been discovered for Tiana Felmingham.