Participatory system dynamics in implementation science practice: a scoping review of methods, contexts and outcomes

Area of Science:

• Implementation Science
• Systems Science
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Recent integration of participatory system dynamics (PSD) and implementation science (IS) in the USA.
• Scoping review of PSD applications in IS studies.
• Focus on understanding determinants of implementation outcomes for quality improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• Illustrate how and why PSD modeling enhances understanding of implementation determinants.
• Document PSD applications within IS.
• Identify the role of PSD in quality improvement initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Searched PubMed and PsycInfo for PSD, IS, and related terms.
• Included USA-based empirical studies with synchronous participatory modeling activities.
• Included studies where PSD was an implementation research method or practice strategy.

Main Results:

• Most studies (7/9) investigated PSD as an intervention to understand implementation problems.
• Four studies used PSD to understand evidence-based practice implementation.
• Three studies used PSD to select IS strategies; most were case studies on feasibility and knowledge translation.

Conclusions:

• Clarify PSD's role as a method or strategy for uncovering contextual determinants in implementation research.
• Leverage PSD's potential for participant buy-in and problem definition to understand temporal determinants.
• Improve alignment between PSD, participatory theory, and IS phases/outcomes for stronger evaluation.