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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Systems Thinking In Public Health by Johns Hopkins University

4.6
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882 ratings

About the Course

This course provides an introduction to systems thinking and systems models in public health. Problems in public health and health policy tend to be complex with many actors, institutions and risk factors involved. If an outcome depends on many interacting and adaptive parts and actors the outcome cannot be analyzed or predicted with traditional statistical methods. Systems thinking is a core skill in public health and helps health policymakers build programs and policies that are aware of and prepared for unintended consequences. An important part of systems thinking is the practice to integrate multiple perspectives and synthesize them into a framework or model that can describe and predict the various ways in which a system might react to policy change. Systems thinking and systems models devise strategies to account for real world complexities. This work was coordinated by the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, the World Health Organization, with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada. Additional support was provided by the Department for International Development (DFID) through a grant (PO5467) to Future Health Systems research consortium. © World Health Organization 2014 All rights reserved. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted and dashed lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. All reasonable precautions have been taken by the World Health Organization to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the World Health Organization be liable for damages arising from its use. Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health has a non-exclusive license to use and reproduce the material....

Top reviews

NM

Jun 7, 2019

This is an excellent-excellent course and provides a good primer even to somebody (like me) who has only a very limited exposure to public health and none to the concepts of systems thinking.

SV

Mar 11, 2018

The course is one of the best that I've attended on Coursera. This will be highly useful in my current course "Healthcare Operations Management" that I am offering for MBA students in India.

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26 - 50 of 199 Reviews for Systems Thinking In Public Health

By Dr. J B

May 14, 2019

Great place to start or refresh on systems thinking, design, causal loop diagrams (CDL) and SF (Stock & Flow), both with VENSIM, as well as the public health context. Thanks to both instructors and the University.

By JO A

Jun 22, 2020

Excellent perspectives and helpful references; and because its an introductory course it opens up possibilities to utilize the knowledge in different public health related problems.

By Steve S

Jun 5, 2016

I thought this course was top notch - the lectures were very well designed and course production quality was first rate. An excellent introduction to an important subject area.

By Vishnu G P

Apr 7, 2020

This is a good course to pick up knowledge and skills on causal loop diagrams, stock and flow diagrams, agent based modelling and the relevant software needed to develop these.

By Rus H

Jan 12, 2023

Great use-case examples of systems thinking. I found the causal loop diagrams to be very useful for understanding complex systems.

By Nicholas B

Aug 19, 2020

This was an excellent course and I will be integrated it into the systems thinking aspect of our MPH curriculum.

By Rashad J T M

Jan 18, 2019

Great course definitely learned a lot and feel that they can be applied in many areas within my career

By Nwaiwu c

Aug 25, 2018

Very detailed and practical but too technical.

By Deepa. P

Jul 21, 2017

excellent".I gained a lot for my PhD.

By Ivan I

Mar 3, 2020

Excelente!!! con todas las letras!!

By 米睿

Jun 15, 2018

Fantastic Course with high quality

By Khulud A

May 20, 2020

Great course, I learned a lot

By Leila M M

Mar 7, 2016

Excellent course. Thank you!

By Jorge G

Jul 15, 2019

Excelente course!!!!

By Amon Y

Jan 11, 2018

Very useful course.

By Celio N

Nov 27, 2017

awesome course

By Rebecca V

May 1, 2018

GREAT

By Linda A

Feb 4, 2019

I really enjoyed the course, its structure and the way of explaining the concepts. I particularly liked the lectures held by Prof. Ligia Paina: she explained Vensim step by step and I appreciated it. I would have gone a little bit more in detail with stock and flows diagrams, I would have expected in general more examples and practical exercises. Overall, great course to start building a system thinking mindset. Thank you all.

By Shivanand S

May 1, 2020

I liked the content of the course and simplistic way of explanation. My suggestion to improve would be to give some exercises to create cause and loop diagram and stock and flow diagram, so that, public health experts become familiar with these concepts in a better way.

Thank you so much

By Krista M

Aug 21, 2018

The quiz structures and answers could be reviewed in content. The fourth quiz had strange answer selection in the multi-select sections (e.g., suggest rethinking the idea elements of the Q 5,6, 7 answers then build out the answer selections in enhanced clarity).

By Alton W P

Aug 10, 2020

The material is very good. several of the links were broken or went to resources that no longer existed, which was more than a little frustrating. Based on the quizzes, more time should have been put on simulation and implementation.

By Rachel A B

Oct 24, 2016

There was a lot I liked about this course, especially the weeks focusing on background and theory. However, about half the course focused too much on the software that could be used for systems analyses in public health. I would have preferred more of an overview of systems thinking and less diving into the nitty gritty of technology. The other systems course (Systems Science and Obesity) seemed to balance these aspects much better - and moved the technical aspects to labs.

By Quinto E

Aug 15, 2022

I have been ex[osed to Systems Thinking before, but it has never been as clear as it has been put in this course. I knew only property of systems to be the emergent property and i also got some properties from the book Systems Thinking for Health Systems Strengthening. But in this course the descruption of the properties of Complex Adaptive Systems are so presice and clear. The Causal Loop Diagrams was the missing link in my journey to understanding systems thinking.. I was suddenlly awakened, And when the Stock and Floor diagrams came in it was even much better. Perhaps the most important piece of advise if for us not to present ourselves as very sophisticated people who can decipher any Complex Adaptive System for Policy Makers, but to find a way to illuminate choices for the political decision maker and work inclusively with the Public Health Triumvirate.

By Peninah T

Jan 29, 2021

An excellent introductory course for intuitive system thinkers in Public Health. The course covers the broad scope concisely; introducing the concept, the process, the tools to model and as well as model interpretation.

In those short 4 weeks, I have learnt the language to articulate, and acquired the tools apply to, my intuitive system thinking approach to public health. It lays the foundation for me to become a seasoned Systems Thinker. I am deeply indebted. Thank you.

By Lauren W

Sep 1, 2022

Very informational course that provided knowledge and skills not learned or practiced in my undergraduate degree. Would recommend for anyone wanting higher education public health courses or in preparation for graduate school where they would likely expand on the topics discussed in this course.