bims-simosr 2026-04-19 papers

Issue of 2026–04–19
four papers selected by
Eunice T. Adwubi, University of Newcastle

Aust Crit Care. 2026 Apr 16. pii: S1036-7314(26)00053-6. [Epub ahead of print]39(3): 101583

Patient and public involvement and engagement in critical care clinical research: A review.

Keith Couper, Teresa Melody, Marion Thompson, Louise Rose.

Across the world, there is increasing recognition of the importance of engaging with and involving patients, family members, and members of the public in the design, delivery, and dissemination of clinical research. This reflects the value of grounding research in lived experience, thereby ensuring the relevance and integrity of the research. In this review paper, we seek to provide an up-to-date review of patient and public involvement and engagement in critical care clinical research. Our review is informed by a targeted MEDLINE search and author experience, including that of a critical care patient research collaborator. We start by providing a definition of patient and public involvement and describe its uptake in critical care research across the world. We describe how patients, family members, and members of the public are now increasingly becoming involved in critical care research through setting the research agenda (e.g., through research priority setting exercises), in making research funding and regulatory decisions, and as key collaborators in the design, delivery, and dissemination of individual research projects. We highlight the opportunity for improved reporting of this involvement and engagement in study reports. Finally, we identify potential barriers to patient and public involvement and engagement in critical care research before identifying solutions by drawing on personal expertise and published evidence.

Keywords: Community participation; Critical care; Intensive care; Patient involvement; Patient participation; Public involvement; Research

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2026.101583

Int J Health Policy Manag. 2025 ;pii: 9065. [Epub ahead of print]14 9065

Systems Thinking in Public Health Comment on "Using System Dynamics to Understand Transnational Corporate Power in Diet-Related Non-communicable Disease Prevention Policy-Making: A Case Study of South Africa".

Martin McKee, Christina Pagel.

Milson and colleagues illustrate the value of a systems approach to nutrition policy in South Africa. We respond to their call to use systems approaches, and especially, causal loop diagrams (CLDs), more widely in public health. We begin with examples of how systems approaches have provided valuable perspectives on health-related problems and continue with an example of where this approach could have been used but was not, England's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We show how an effective response would have required integrated health, economic, and social policies, yet the British government adopted a siloed approach. We conclude by noting that examples of how systems thinking, and specifically CLDs, have been used to support pandemic responses. We conclude by emphasising the need to embed systems thinking in public health policy-making to enhance resilience and preparedness for future crises.

Keywords: COVID-19; Complexity; Soft Systems; Systems Analysis

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34172/ijhpm.9065

Front Psychol. 2026 ;17 1581156

An agent-based exploration of the influence of needs on health protection motivation and intentions.

Patrick Mertes, Veronika Kurchyna, Ye Eun Bae, Jan Ole Berndt, Ingo Timm.

Human behavior plays a crucial role in public health. In the same sense, understanding the multifaceted factors influencing health-related decisions is essential to derive meaningful protective measures. In this study, we demonstrate how values, social norms and individual needs can be combined within the theoretical framework of the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to study the intention-behavior gap regarding smoking in social settings. By extending upon a previous model that relied on social pressure as primary mechanism, we investigate how the inclusion of needs shifts behavior toward higher polarization and stronger adherence with intentions. As a novelty compared to previous approaches, conflicts of social pressure and different needs are the source of cognitive dissonance, leading to a gradual shift in attitudes or social network constellations. Most particularly, the inclusion of needs leads to the observation of both peer pressure-induced smoking as well as frequent failure to cease smoking as outcomes in the model.

Keywords: agent-based simulation; cognitive dissonance; health behavior; protection motivation theory; social simulation; social smoking

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1581156

Indian J Community Med. 2026 Feb;51(Suppl 1): S17-S20

At the Crossroads for the Use of Drones in Public Health System in India: Leveraging Community Mobilisation.

Prakamya Gupta.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) hold promise for transforming healthcare delivery, offering rapid and cost-effective solutions for transporting medical supplies, especially in difficult terrains. However, their successful adoption within public health systems requires careful consideration of community factors. This viewpoint emphasizes the critical role of community mobilization in fostering a robust and sustainable drone ecosystem for healthcare. Leveraging grassroot governance and community engagement is crucial for bridging the gap between technology and the public. Community members can provide valuable insights into local needs and ensure the safe and efficient drone operations. Moreover, community involvement, from planning to monitoring, ensures that drone services are culturally sensitive, address local needs, and promote trust. Thus, a community-centric approach not only enhances healthcare delivery but also addresses safety concerns and promotes the long-term sustainability of drone-based healthcare solutions, bringing us closer to achieving "Health for All".

Keywords: Community engagement; India; drones; public healthcare system

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_446_24