Silverman, E. , Gostoli, U. , Picascia, S. , Almagor, J. , McCann, M. , Shaw, R. and Angione, C. (2021) Situating agent-based modelling in population health research. Emerging Themes in Epidemiology, 18, 10. (doi: 10.1186/s12982-021-00102-7) (PMID:34330302) (PMCID:PMC8325181)
![[img]](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/style/images/fileicons/text.png) |
Text
209650.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. 1MB |
Abstract
Today’s most troublesome population health challenges are often driven by social and environmental determinants, which are difficult to model using traditional epidemiological methods. We agree with those who have argued for the wider adoption of agent-based modelling (ABM) in taking on these challenges. However, while ABM has been used occasionally in population health, we argue that for ABM to be most effective in the field it should be used as a means for answering questions normally inaccessible to the traditional epidemiological toolkit. In an effort to clearly illustrate the utility of ABM for population health research, and to clear up persistent misunderstandings regarding the method’s conceptual underpinnings, we offer a detailed presentation of the core concepts of complex systems theory, and summarise why simulations are essential to the study of complex systems. We then examine the current state of the art in ABM for population health, and propose they are well-suited for the study of the ‘wicked’ problems in population health, and could make significant contributions to theory and intervention development in these areas.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Almagor, Dr Jonatan and Shaw, Dr Richard and Silverman, Dr Eric and McCann, Dr Mark and Gostoli, Dr Umberto and Picascia, Dr Stefano |
| Authors: | Silverman, E., Gostoli, U., Picascia, S., Almagor, J., McCann, M., Shaw, R., and Angione, C. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU |
| Journal Name: | Emerging Themes in Epidemiology |
| Publisher: | BioMed Central |
| ISSN: | 1742-7622 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1742-7622 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2021 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Emerging Themes in Epidemiology 18: 10 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record
Altmetric
Altmetric