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. 2023 Aug 17;18(8):e0284765.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284765. eCollection 2023.

Application of group model building in implementation research: A systematic review of the public health and healthcare literature

Weanne Myrrh Estrada-Magbanua  1 , Terry T-K Huang  1 , David W Lounsbury  2 , Priscila Zito  1 , Pulwasha Iftikhar  1 , Nabila El-Bassel  3 , Louisa Gilbert  3 , Elwin Wu  3 , Bruce Y Lee  1 , Pedro Mateu-Gelabert  1 , Nasim S Sabounchi  1
Affiliations

Application of group model building in implementation research: A systematic review of the public health and healthcare literature

Weanne Myrrh Estrada-Magbanua et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Group model building is a process of engaging stakeholders in a participatory modeling process to elicit their perceptions of a problem and explore concepts regarding the origin, contributing factors, and potential solutions or interventions to a complex issue. Recently, it has emerged as a novel method for tackling complex, long-standing public health issues that traditional intervention models and frameworks cannot fully address. However, the extent to which group model building has resulted in the adoption of evidence-based practices, interventions, and policies for public health remains largely unstudied. The goal of this systematic review was to examine the public health and healthcare applications of GMB in the literature and outline how it has been used to foster implementation and dissemination of evidence-based interventions.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and other databases through August 2022 for studies related to public health or health care where GMB was cited as a main methodology. We did not eliminate studies based on language, location, or date of publication. Three reviewers independently extracted data on GMB session characteristics, model attributes, and dissemination formats and content.

Results: Seventy-two studies were included in the final review. Majority of GMB activities were in the fields of nutrition (n = 19, 26.4%), health care administration (n = 15, 20.8%), and environmental health (n = 12, 16.7%), and were conducted in the United States (n = 29, 40.3%) and Australia (n = 7, 9.7%). Twenty-three (31.9%) studies reported that GMB influenced implementation through policy change, intervention development, and community action plans; less than a third reported dissemination of the model outside journal publication. GMB was reported to have increased insight, facilitated consensus, and fostered communication among stakeholders.

Conclusions: GMB is associated with tangible benefits to participants, including increased community engagement and development of systems solutions. Transdisciplinary stakeholder involvement and more rigorous evaluation and dissemination of GMB activities are recommended.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Images of GMB activities.
(A) Graphs over time: graphs drawn by participants depicting the behavior of variables over time. (B) Variable elicitation: variables affecting opioid use elicited from participants. (C) Creating a CLD: a CLD indicating connections and feedback behaviors between variables developed by participants (D) Dots exercise to address priorities: Output of a dots exercise demonstrating priority actions ranked by participants.
Fig 2
Fig 2. PRISMA diagram.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Outcomes identified in the GMB studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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