A tool for exploring the dynamics of innovative interventions for public health: the critical event card

Ana Claudia Figueiro, Sydia Rosana de Araújo Oliveira, Zulmira Hartz, Yves Couturier, Jocelyne Bernier, Maria do Socorro Machado Freire, Isabella Samico, Maria Guadalupe Medina, Ronice Franco de Sa, Louise Potvin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: Public health interventions are increasingly represented as complex systems. Research tools for capturing the dynamic of interventions processes, however, are practically non-existent. This paper describes the development and proof of concept process of an analytical tool, the critical event card (CEC), which supports the representation and analysis of complex interventions’ evolution, based on critical events. Methods: Drawing on the actor-network theory (ANT), we developed and field-tested the tool using three innovative health interventions in northeastern Brazil. Interventions were aimed to promote health equity through intersectoral approaches; were engaged in participatory evaluation and linked to professional training programs. The CEC developing involve practitioners and researchers from projects. Proof of concept was based on document analysis, face-to-face interviews and focus groups. Results: Analytical categories from CEC allow identifying and describing critical events as milestones in the evolution of complex interventions. Categories are (1) event description; (2) actants (human and non-human) involved; (3) interactions between actants; (4) mediations performed; (5) actions performed; (6) inscriptions produced; and (7) consequences for interventions. Conclusions: The CEC provides a tool to analyze and represent intersectoral internvetions’ complex and dynamic evolution.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)177-186
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Public Health
Volume62
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2017

Keywords

  • Actor network theory
  • Critical event
  • Health promotion
  • Innovative interventions

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