BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4R4, Canada.
School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, 210-6081 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada.
Health Res Policy Syst. 2023 Mar 2;21(1):18. doi: 10.1186/s12961-023-00961-3.
Complex systems approaches are increasingly used in health promotion and noncommunicable disease prevention research, policy and practice. Questions emerge as to the best ways to take a complex systems approach, specifically with respect to population physical activity (PA). Using an Attributes Model is one way to understand complex systems. We aimed to examine the types of complex systems methods used in current PA research and identify what methods align with a whole system approach as reflected by an Attributes Model.
A scoping review was conducted and two databases were searched. Twenty-five articles were selected and data analysis was based upon the following: the complex systems research methods used, research aims, if participatory methods were used and evidence of discussion regarding attributes of systems.
There were three groups of methods used: system mapping, simulation modelling and network analysis. System mapping methods appeared to align best with a whole system approach to PA promotion because they largely aimed to understand complex systems, examined interactions and feedback among variables, and used participatory methods. Most of these articles focused on PA (as opposed to integrated studies). Simulation modelling methods were largely focused on examining complex problems and identifying interventions. These methods did not generally focus on PA or use participatory methods. While network analysis articles focused on examining complex systems and identifying interventions, they did not focus on PA nor use participatory methods. All attributes were discussed in some way in the articles. Attributes were explicitly reported on in terms of findings or were part of discussion and conclusion sections. System mapping methods appear to be well aligned with a whole system approach because these methods addressed all attributes in some way. We did not find this pattern with other methods.
Future research using complex systems methods may benefit from applying the Attributes Model in conjunction with system mapping methods. Simulation modelling and network analysis methods are seen as complementary and could be used when system mapping methods identify priorities for further investigation (e.g. what interventions to implement or how densely connected relationships are in systems).
复杂系统方法在健康促进和非传染性疾病预防研究、政策和实践中越来越多地被采用。在采用复杂系统方法方面，特别是在人口体力活动方面，出现了一些问题。使用属性模型是理解复杂系统的一种方法。我们旨在检查当前体力活动研究中使用的复杂系统方法的类型，并确定哪些方法与属性模型所反映的整体系统方法相一致。
进行了范围界定审查，并对两个数据库进行了搜索。选择了 25 篇文章，数据分析基于以下内容：使用的复杂系统研究方法、研究目的、是否使用参与性方法以及关于系统属性的讨论证据。
使用了三组方法：系统映射、模拟建模和网络分析。系统映射方法似乎与促进体力活动的整体系统方法最一致，因为它们主要旨在理解复杂系统，检查变量之间的相互作用和反馈，并使用参与性方法。这些文章大多关注体力活动（而非综合研究）。模拟建模方法主要集中在检查复杂问题和确定干预措施上。这些方法通常不关注体力活动或使用参与性方法。虽然网络分析文章侧重于检查复杂系统和确定干预措施，但它们不关注体力活动，也不使用参与性方法。所有属性都以某种方式在文章中进行了讨论。属性是根据发现报告的，或者是讨论和结论部分的一部分。系统映射方法似乎与整体系统方法非常一致，因为这些方法以某种方式解决了所有属性。我们在其他方法中没有发现这种模式。
未来使用复杂系统方法的研究可能受益于结合系统映射方法应用属性模型。模拟建模和网络分析方法被视为互补方法，可以在系统映射方法确定进一步调查的优先事项时使用（例如，实施哪些干预措施或系统中关系的密集程度如何）。
