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Table 6 Ways of using SSM

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

 

Number of studies

%

Purpose of using SSM

 Problem structuring and proposing improvements

20

40.8

 Problem structuring

8

16.3

 Evaluation

6

12.2

 Problem structuring, proposing and implementing improvements

5

10.2

 Describing or understanding models of care or processes in healthcare

4

8.2

 Determine objectives for a simulation study

2

4.1

 Other

4

8.2

Problem situation/reason for using SSM

 Health system improvement

9

18.4

 Care process improvement

8

16.3

 Policy improvement

7

14.3

 Information system development/improvement

6

12.3

 Describe/improve knowledge management system

3

6.1

 Intervention/program/care model evaluation

3

6.1

 Analyse/improve practice development

3

6.1

 Analyse/improve teamwork

2

4.1

 Other

8

16.3

Type of SSM used

 Seven stage

13

26.5

 Four activity

6

12.3

 Combined with other method

11

22.5

 Part of the method

6

12.3

 New adapted version

3

6.1

 Two strands

1

2

 Nine stage

1

2

 Not clear/not stated

8

16.3

SSM tools applieda

 PAM

33

67.3

 Root definition

29

59.2

 CATWOE

28

57.1

 Rich picture

20

40.1

 Comparison of real world and PAM

17

34.7

 Three Es

4b

8.2

 PQR-formula

2

4.1

 Five Es

1

2

  1. aPercentage exceeds 100 because some studies applied multiple SSM tools
  2. bOne study used an adapted version of the Three Es [30]