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.



Systems Thinking In Public Health


Instructors: David Bishai, MD, PhD
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There are 4 modules in this course
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.
What's included
8 videos12 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
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.
What's included
8 videos9 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
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.
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13 videos11 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts
This Module wraps up the course and shows you how systems thinking can contribute to policy making.
What's included
6 videos3 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
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Reviewed on May 28, 2017
The course is easy to understand and the lecturer are well read about the subject. It will be very helpful to me in near future working as a public health worker
Reviewed on Jul 27, 2017
I was hoping to get a perspective on the origin and theories of systems thinking, however the course does not focus on that. The course is a practical tool to apply systems thinking in one's work.
Reviewed on Aug 3, 2020
Coming from a lean background, this really helped drive a deeper understanding and showed me some things I can add to my own practice with more confidence.

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