Applying influence for systems change in a large-scale community-based prevention intervention

Study objectives and importance: The study aimed to explore how a 'self-in-the-system' approach was understood and applied by Healthy Together Community (HTC) practitioners, as part of Healthy Together Victoria's (HTV) systems approach to community-level health promotion. Self-in-the-system tactics were a means of systems practice within HTV, where practitioners viewed their connections to others as parts of the systems that surround them. It enabled them to intervene via exerting influence, by drawing upon relationships to leverage what people can contribute to achieve change. Study type and methods: This qualitative research included 31 primary semistructured interviews. The initial participants were identified using purposive sampling and subsequent participants were nominated via snowball recruitment. The interview questions focused on participants' understanding of systems thinking and about how it had been developed and applied in HTCs. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Inductive thematic analysis was based on Braun and Clarke's six-phase analysis framework. Results: The research findings show that some of the HTC practitioners viewed themselves as part of the prevention system and were able to draw upon their relationships to achieve change. They had invested time to develop trusted connections upon which to engage and encourage cooperation. The notion of a 'prevention change agent' developed, referring to practitioners who used their influence to achieve HTC goals. This practical know-how was developing in HTCs as people were able to describe the concept, rather than provide examples of working in this way. Conclusion: Within a systems approach to community-level health promotion, a practitioner's capacity to identify their role in complex adaptive systems and their ability to influence others are potentially powerful skills to facilitate change. Self in the system is a developing skill for systems practice for prevention and it may add more systemic ways of working compared with traditional programmatic methods.