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Understanding the sustainment of population health programmes from a whole-of-system approach Crane, Melanie; Nathan, Nicole; Bauman, Adrian; McKay, Heather Anne, 1954-; Lee, Karen; Wiggers, John; Bauman, Adrian

Abstract

Background Population health prevention programmes are needed to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases. Nevertheless, sustaining programmes at a population level is challenging. Population health is highly influenced by social, economic and political environments and is vulnerable to these system-level changes. The aim of this research was to examine the factors and mechanisms contributing to the sustainment of population prevention programmes taking a systems thinking approach. Methods We conducted a qualitative study through interviews with population health experts working within Australian government and non-government agencies experienced in sustaining public health programs at the local, state or national level (n = 13). We used a deductive thematic approach, grounded in systems thinking to analyse data. Results We identified four key barriers affecting program sustainment: 1) short term political and funding cycles; 2) competing interests; 3) silo thinking within health service delivery; and 4) the fit of a program to population needs. To overcome these barriers various approaches have centred on the importance of long-range planning and resourcing, flexible program design and management, leadership and partnerships, evidence generation, and system support structures. Conclusion This study provides key insights for overcoming challenges to the sustainment of population health programmes amidst complex system-wide changes.

Item Metadata

Title
Understanding the sustainment of population health programmes from a whole-of-system approach
Creator
Crane, Melanie; Nathan, Nicole; Bauman, Adrian; McKay, Heather Anne, 1954-; Lee, Karen; Wiggers, John; Bauman, Adrian
Contributor
Centre for Hip Health and Mobility
Publisher
BioMed Central
Date Issued
2022-04-07
Description
Background Population health prevention programmes are needed to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases. Nevertheless, sustaining programmes at a population level is challenging. Population health is highly influenced by social, economic and political environments and is vulnerable to these system-level changes. The aim of this research was to examine the factors and mechanisms contributing to the sustainment of population prevention programmes taking a systems thinking approach. Methods We conducted a qualitative study through interviews with population health experts working within Australian government and non-government agencies experienced in sustaining public health programs at the local, state or national level (n = 13). We used a deductive thematic approach, grounded in systems thinking to analyse data. Results We identified four key barriers affecting program sustainment: 1) short term political and funding cycles; 2) competing interests; 3) silo thinking within health service delivery; and 4) the fit of a program to population needs. To overcome these barriers various approaches have centred on the importance of long-range planning and resourcing, flexible program design and management, leadership and partnerships, evidence generation, and system support structures. Conclusion This study provides key insights for overcoming challenges to the sustainment of population health programmes amidst complex system-wide changes.
Subject
Health promotion; Implementation; Sustainability; Population health; Systems thinking; Intervention; Noncommunicable diseases
Genre
Article
Type
Text
Language
eng
Date Available
2022-05-31
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
DOI
10.14288/1.0413718
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/81661
Affiliation
Medicine, Faculty of; Non UBC; Family Practice, Department of
Citation
Health Research Policy and Systems. 2022 Apr 07;20(1):37
Publisher DOI
10.1186/s12961-022-00843-0
Peer Review Status
Reviewed
Scholarly Level
Faculty; Researcher
Copyright Holder
The Author(s)
Rights URI
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Aggregated Source Repository
DSpace

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Rights

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)