Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37438723›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2023

Implementing online group model building to unravel complex geriatric problems, a methodological description.

Oscar S Smeekes, Hanna C Willems, Ilse Blomberg, Etiënne A J A Rouwette, Bianca M Buurman

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Leveraging Community-Based System Dynamics to Understand Long Covid Disparities in African American Communities: A Model for Health Equity Research.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Oscar S SmeekesInternal Medicine, section of Geriatric Medicine, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, The Netherlands. o.s.smeekes@amsterdamumc.nl.
Hanna C WillemsInternal Medicine, section of Geriatric Medicine, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, The Netherlands.
Ilse BlombergInternal Medicine, section of Geriatric Medicine, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, The Netherlands.
Etiënne A J A RouwetteDepartment of Methodology, Nijmegen School of Management, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 141, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Bianca M BuurmanInternal Medicine, section of Geriatric Medicine, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGroup model building (GMB), is a qualitative focus group like study design from the field of system dynamics, that leads a group of topic experts (often key stakeholders of a problem), through a set of scripted activities to create a conceptual model of their shared view on this problems' key contributing factors and their interactions. By offering a specific step wise approach to the complexity of a problem, GMB has provided better understanding and overview of complex problems across different scientific domains, in addition to traditional research methods. As the development of geriatric syndromes and organization of geriatric care are often complex issues that are difficult to research, understand and resolve, GMB might be a useful methodology to better address these issues. This study aimed to describe the methodology of online GMB using a geriatric case study.

methodsFour online GMB sessions were designed by two clinician researchers. A GMB methodology expert was consulted for optimal design. Scriptapedia scripts formed the core of the sessions. These scripts were adapted to the online format. Experts were recruited purposefully and included seven local health care professionals, one patient representative and one healthcare insurance data analyst. The outcome was a conceptual model of older adults' emergency department visits, which was discussed in a separate article.

resultsDuring implementation of these four sessions, the sessions were adjusted and two extra (non-scripted) sessions were added because defining unambiguous contributing factors to the geriatric case was challenging for the experts. Paraphrasing, categorizing, iterative plenary reflection, and reserving extra time were used to help experts overcome this challenge. All sessions were held in April and May 2021.

conclusionThis study shows that GMB can help unravel complex problems in geriatrics, both pathophysiological as organizational, by creating step wise overview of their key contributing factors and interactions. Furthermore, it shows that GMB can be used by clinicians, researchers and health policy makers to better understand complex geriatric problems. Moreover, this paper can help to overcome specific implementational challenges in the geriatric field.

Indexed as

Emergency Service, HospitalGeriatricsAgedFocus GroupsHealth FacilitiesHealth PersonnelHumansComplex problemsGeriatricsGroup model buildingImplementationOnlineSystem dynamics

Identifiers

PMID37438723
PMCPMC10339532

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.