Developing agent-based models of complex health behaviour

Managing non-communicable diseases requires policy makers to adopt a whole systems perspective that adequately represents the complex causal architecture of human behaviour. Agent-based modelling is a computational method to understand the behaviour of complex systems by simulating the actions of en...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health & place 2018-11, Vol.54, p.170-177
Main Authors: Badham, Jennifer, Chattoe-Brown, Edmund, Gilbert, Nigel, Chalabi, Zaid, Kee, Frank, Hunter, Ruth F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agent-based modelling
Agent-based models
Behavior
Built environment
Complex systems
Computer applications
Computer simulation
Disease management
Health Behavior
Health behaviour
Health care policy
Health Policy
Health research
Human behavior
Humans
Infectious diseases
Medical research
Medical treatment
Modelling non-communicable diseases
Policy making
Public Health
Social environment
Spatial analysis
Spatial modelling
Specification
Systems Analysis
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Summary:Managing non-communicable diseases requires policy makers to adopt a whole systems perspective that adequately represents the complex causal architecture of human behaviour. Agent-based modelling is a computational method to understand the behaviour of complex systems by simulating the actions of entities within the system, including the way these individuals influence and are influenced by their physical and social environment. The potential benefits of this method have led to several calls for greater use in public health research. We discuss three challenges facing potential modellers: model specification, obtaining required data, and developing good practices. We also present steps to assist researchers to meet these challenges and implement their agent-based model. •ABM is effective for modelling health behaviour embedded within the environment.•Key challenges are: formulating rules, obtaining process data, and acquiring skills.•Experience from other disciplines may be adapted for public health research.•The potential benefits of ABM warrant the effort required.
ISSN:1353-8292
1873-2054
DOI:10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.08.022