Systems thinking for Aboriginal Health: Understanding the value and acceptability of group model building approaches
Systems thinking is increasingly applied to understand and address systemic drivers of complex health problems. In Australia, group model building, a participatory method from systems science, has been applied in various locations to engage communities in systems-based health promotion projects. To...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-09-01
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| Series: | SSM: Population Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235282732100149X |
| _version_ | 1818648895392055296 |
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| author | Jennifer Browne Troy Walker Andrew Brown Simone Sherriff Rebecca Christidis Mikaela Egan Vincent Versace Steven Allender Kathryn Backholer |
| author_facet | Jennifer Browne Troy Walker Andrew Brown Simone Sherriff Rebecca Christidis Mikaela Egan Vincent Versace Steven Allender Kathryn Backholer |
| author_sort | Jennifer Browne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Systems thinking is increasingly applied to understand and address systemic drivers of complex health problems. In Australia, group model building, a participatory method from systems science, has been applied in various locations to engage communities in systems-based health promotion projects. To date there is limited evidence regarding GMB use with Australian Aboriginal communities. This study aimed to determine the value and acceptability of group model building (GMB) as a methodological approach in research with Aboriginal communities and identify any adaptations required to optimise its utility. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 18 Aboriginal health and university staff who had prior experience with a GMB research project. Interview transcripts were inductively analysed using thematic analysis and key themes were organised using an Indigenous research framework. Participants reported that GMB methods generally aligned well with Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing. Participants valued the holistic, visual and collaborative nature of the method and its emphasis on sharing stories and collective decision-making. Group model building was viewed as a useful tool for identifying Aboriginal-led actions to address priority issues and advancing self-determination. Our findings suggest that by bringing together Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal knowledge, GMB is a promising tool, which Aboriginal communities could utilise to explore and address complex problems in a manner that is consistent with their worldviews. In adapting group model building methods, non-Aboriginal researchers should aspire to move beyond co-design processes and enable Aboriginal health research to be entirely led by Aboriginal people. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:25:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f6631b9ebbf416ba76f15c3cbe82ae1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2352-8273 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:25:42Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SSM: Population Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-0f6631b9ebbf416ba76f15c3cbe82ae12022-12-21T22:08:42ZengElsevierSSM: Population Health2352-82732021-09-0115100874Systems thinking for Aboriginal Health: Understanding the value and acceptability of group model building approachesJennifer Browne0Troy Walker1Andrew Brown2Simone Sherriff3Rebecca Christidis4Mikaela Egan5Vincent Versace6Steven Allender7Kathryn Backholer8Global Obesity Centre (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Locked Bag, 20000, Geelong Victoria, Australia; Corresponding author.Global Obesity Centre (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Locked Bag, 20000, Geelong Victoria, AustraliaGlobal Obesity Centre (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Locked Bag, 20000, Geelong Victoria, AustraliaSax Institute, Level 3/30C Wentworth St, Glebe, NSW, AustraliaGlobal Obesity Centre (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Locked Bag, 20000, Geelong Victoria, AustraliaVictorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, 17-23, Sackville St Collingwood, Victoria, AustraliaDeakin Rural Health, School of Medicine, Deakin University, PO Box 423, Warrnambool Victoria, AustraliaGlobal Obesity Centre (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Locked Bag, 20000, Geelong Victoria, AustraliaGlobal Obesity Centre (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Locked Bag, 20000, Geelong Victoria, AustraliaSystems thinking is increasingly applied to understand and address systemic drivers of complex health problems. In Australia, group model building, a participatory method from systems science, has been applied in various locations to engage communities in systems-based health promotion projects. To date there is limited evidence regarding GMB use with Australian Aboriginal communities. This study aimed to determine the value and acceptability of group model building (GMB) as a methodological approach in research with Aboriginal communities and identify any adaptations required to optimise its utility. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 18 Aboriginal health and university staff who had prior experience with a GMB research project. Interview transcripts were inductively analysed using thematic analysis and key themes were organised using an Indigenous research framework. Participants reported that GMB methods generally aligned well with Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing. Participants valued the holistic, visual and collaborative nature of the method and its emphasis on sharing stories and collective decision-making. Group model building was viewed as a useful tool for identifying Aboriginal-led actions to address priority issues and advancing self-determination. Our findings suggest that by bringing together Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal knowledge, GMB is a promising tool, which Aboriginal communities could utilise to explore and address complex problems in a manner that is consistent with their worldviews. In adapting group model building methods, non-Aboriginal researchers should aspire to move beyond co-design processes and enable Aboriginal health research to be entirely led by Aboriginal people.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235282732100149XAboriginal healthIndigenous healthSystems thinkingSystems scienceGroup model buildingCommunity based system dynamics |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer Browne Troy Walker Andrew Brown Simone Sherriff Rebecca Christidis Mikaela Egan Vincent Versace Steven Allender Kathryn Backholer Systems thinking for Aboriginal Health: Understanding the value and acceptability of group model building approaches SSM: Population Health Aboriginal health Indigenous health Systems thinking Systems science Group model building Community based system dynamics |
| title | Systems thinking for Aboriginal Health: Understanding the value and acceptability of group model building approaches |
| title_full | Systems thinking for Aboriginal Health: Understanding the value and acceptability of group model building approaches |
| title_fullStr | Systems thinking for Aboriginal Health: Understanding the value and acceptability of group model building approaches |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systems thinking for Aboriginal Health: Understanding the value and acceptability of group model building approaches |
| title_short | Systems thinking for Aboriginal Health: Understanding the value and acceptability of group model building approaches |
| title_sort | systems thinking for aboriginal health understanding the value and acceptability of group model building approaches |
| topic | Aboriginal health Indigenous health Systems thinking Systems science Group model building Community based system dynamics |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235282732100149X |
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