Health Systems Thinking International

Professor Brian Dangerfield, University of Salford HEALTH SYSTEMS THINKING INTERNATIONAL LINKS BETWEEN URBAN PLANNING & HEALTH In cities there is a complex interplay between social, cultural, economic, technological & biophysical factors in generating demand for health care (www.healthycities.org.uk ; underpinned by WHO Europe). Developing countries (rapid urbanisation) need research skills to aid policy design which maximises health benefits and avoids risks. We would expect significant demand from abroad for the services

of the Centre: the NHS is revered. Prevalence of fast-food outlets Opportunities for consumption of cheap, high-energy food Resilience to extreme climatic events

URBAN HEALTH & WELLBEING (Young peoples) access to alcohol Effective public transport Air quality Alcohol consumption

THE USA PERSPECTIVE They are well ahead of us in the use of systems modelling in health & especially in public health Institute of Medicine report (Dec 2010): pathways between the social, economic and environmental causes of poor health are complex and interconnected. Models and other novel analytic tools can elucidate these pathways The National Institute of Health (Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences) includes Systems Thinking Approaches to Health as one of four primary themes in its strategic prospectus