Systems Thinking In Public Health

Starts Nov 13

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Systems Thinking In Public Health

About this course: This course provides an introduction to systems thinking and systems models in public health. Problems in public health and health policy tend to be complex with many actors, institutions and risk factors involved. If an outcome depends on many interacting and adaptive parts and actors the outcome cannot be analyzed or predicted with traditional statistical methods. Systems thinking is a core skill in public health and helps health policymakers build programs and policies that are aware of and prepared for unintended consequences.

An important part of systems thinking is the practice to integrate multiple perspectives and synthesize them into a framework or model that can describe and predict the various ways in which a system might react to policy change. Systems thinking and systems models devise strategies to account for real world complexities.

This work was coordinated by the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, the World Health Organization, with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada. Additional support was provided by the Department for International Development (DFID) through a grant (PO5467) to Future Health Systems research consortium.

© World Health Organization 2014

Created by: Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University David Bishai, MD, PhD Taught by: David Bishai, MD, PhD, Professor

Population, Family and Reproductive Health Ligia Paina, PhD Taught by: Ligia Paina, PhD, Assistant Scientist

WEEK 1 Introduction to Systems Thinking and Complex Adaptive Systems This module introduces the basics of systems thinking and the rationale for using a systems approach to solve public health problems in complex adaptive systems.

WEEK 2 System Conceptualization Using Causal Loop Diagrams This module will introduce you to the concepts of causal loop diagrams and how they can be used in participatory research. You will also be introduced to the software Vensim that allows you to draw causal loop diagrams.

WEEK 3 System Dynamics Simulation Using Stock-and-Flow Diagrams This module will introduce you to the concepts of systems dynamics modeling and will show you how to use Vensim to run a pre-existing system dynamics model.

WEEK 4 Practical and policy implications This Module wraps up the course and shows you how systems thinking can contribute to policy making.

Coursework Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Creators Johns Hopkins University The mission of The Johns Hopkins University is to educate its students and cultivate their capacity for life-long learning, to foster independent and original research, and to bring the benefits of discovery to the world.