SynthesisHealth research policy and systems2023
Combining systems thinking approaches and implementation science constructs within community-based prevention: a systematic review.
Synthesis in Health research policy and systems, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers.
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.
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.
Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed.
- Advancing systems thinking in implementation science: An epidemiologic perspective.Annals of epidemiology · 2026Article
- Extracting homogenous data from heterogenous diseases: RaraSwed, the Swedish national rare disease quality registry.BMC global and public health · 2026Review
- Participatory system dynamics in implementation science practice: a scoping review of methods, contexts and outcomes.BMJ open quality · 2026Article
- Beyond risk reduction of work-related musculoskeletal disorders: The CoWork musculoskeletal health model.Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health · 2026Article
- Integrating systems thinking and implementation science in biomedical informatics research.JAMIA open · 2026Review
- Dietitians as System Builders: Advancing Equity, Sustainability and Health in Community Nutrition and Primary Care.Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association · 2026Article
- Modelling enablers and barriers to improve uptake of a fruit and vegetable voucher scheme (the fresh street community) in England: a TISM-MICMAC approach.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Participatory system dynamics modeling: advancing equity through contextualized implementation science in global health.BMC global and public health · 2026Review
- Designing complex health system interventions: an integrated theory-informed approach.Frontiers in health services · 2026Review
- Participatory systems modeling in implementation research: Exploring benefits, facilitators, and future needs.Journal of clinical and translational science · 2026Article
- Understanding the dynamics of implementing the Norwegian School Fruit Programme: integrating implementation science and system dynamics.Implementation science communications · 2025Article
- Advancing implementation of shared care for cancer survivors using a systems thinking approach (the SEAMLESS study).Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice · 2025Article
- Enhancing healthy eating and active play in the Australian early childhood education and care system.Health promotion international · 2025Article
- Towards a complex systems model of evidence for public health.BMJ global health · 2025Review
- A participatory systems approach for visualizing and testing implementation strategies and mechanisms: evidence adoption in community coalitions.Implementation science communications · 2025Article
- Exploring the Contextual Factors That Influence Polio Supplementary Immunisation Activities in the WHO African Region: A Rapid Review.Vaccines · 2025Review
- Implementation science grant terminations in the United States.Implementation science : IS · 2025Article
- A co-designed conceptual model for implementing falls prevention programmes for community-dwelling older adults in Singapore: a systems thinking approach.Age and ageing · 2025Article
- Complex inner and outer setting interactions determine feasibility and readiness of developing primary care registries in small island developing states: sequential mixed methods study.Frontiers in health services · 2025Article
- Overcoming barriers to NHS adoption of innovative IPC products: A qualitative study of SMEs in the Liverpool city region.PloS one · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundSystems science offers methods for designing population health interventions while implementation science provides specific guidance for successful implementation. Integrating systems and implementation science may strengthen implementation and enhance and sustain systemic change to achieve system-level outcomes. Little is known about the extent to which these two approaches have been integrated to date. This review aimed to identify and synthesise the peer-reviewed literature that has reported the combined use of systems thinking approaches and implementation science constructs (within the same study), to deliver population health interventions.
methodsA systematic literature search of peer-reviewed original research was conducted across six databases from 2009 to 2021. Journal manuscripts were included if they: (1) reported on a population health study conducted in a community, (2) reported the use of a systems method in the design of the intervention, and (3) used an implementation science theory, framework or model in the delivery of the intervention. Data extracted related to the specific systems methods and definitions and implementation science constructs used. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to assess study quality.
resultsOf the 9086 manuscripts returned, 320 manuscripts were included for full-text review. Of these, 17 manuscripts that reported on 14 studies were included in the final extraction. The most frequently reported systems methods were a 'whole of community systems approach' (n = 4/14) and 'community-based system dynamics' (n = 2/14). Nineteen different implementation science theories, frameworks and models were used for intervention delivery, with RE-AIM being the only framework used in more than one study.
conclusionThere are few published peer-reviewed studies using systems thinking and implementation science for designing and delivering population health interventions. An exploration of synergies is worthwhile to operationalise alignment and improve implementation of systems thinking approaches. Review protocol registration PROSPERO CRD42021250419.
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Registered trials
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.