Change and improvement 50 years in the making: a scoping review of the use of soft systems methodology in healthcare.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Improving the quality of healthcare has proven to be a challenging task despite longstanding efforts. Approaches to improvements that consider the strong influence of local context as well as stakeholders' differing views on the situation are warranted. Soft systems methodology (SSM) includes contextual and multi-perspectival features. However, the way SSM has been applied and the outcomes of using SSM to stimulate productive change in healthcare have not been sufficiently investigated.

Aim

This scoping review aimed to examine and map the use and outcomes of SSM in healthcare settings.

Method

The review was based on Arksey and O'Malley's framework. We searched six academic databases to January 2019 for peer-reviewed journal articles in English. We also re

SUBMITTER: Augustsson H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7684911 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature