Advancing the Use of Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Local Health Departments With Systems Science Methodologies uri icon

abstract

  • OBJECTIVES: We assessed how systems science methodologies might be used to bridge resource gaps at local health departments (LHDs) so that they might better implement evidence-based decision-making (EBDM) to address population health challenges. METHODS: We used the New York Academy of Medicine Cardiovascular Health Simulation Model to evaluate the results of a hypothetical program that would reduce the proportion of people smoking, eating fewer than 5 fruits and vegetables per day, being physically active less than 150 minutes per week, and who had a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m(2) or greater. We used survey data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to evaluate health outcomes and validate simulation results. RESULTS: Smoking rates and the proportion of the population with a BMI of 25 kg/m(2) or greater would have decreased significantly with implementation of the hypothetical program (P < .001). Two areas would have experienced a statistically significant reduction in the local population with diabetes between 2007 and 2027 (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of systems science methodologies might be a novel and efficient way to systematically address a number of EBDM adoption barriers at LHDs.

published proceedings

  • Am J Public Health

altmetric score

  • 0.5

author list (cited authors)

  • Li, Y., Kong, N., Lawley, M., Weiss, L., & Pagn, J. A.

citation count

  • 25

complete list of authors

  • Li, Yan||Kong, Nan||Lawley, Mark||Weiss, Linda||Pagán, José A

publication date

  • April 2015