Module 4. Environment-Oriented Theories for Population Health Interventions  

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module, you will be able to

  • identify the key distinctions between behaviour- and environment-oriented theories
  • describe how the limitations of the “lifestyle” approach to population health promotion led to the development of environment-oriented theories
  • define the main elements of ecological models of public health and related implications for practice
  • describe the key components of systems theory and how it can guide the development of population health interventions
  • recognize the strengths and limitations of causal loop diagrams, a fundamental tool for the application of systems theory

Learning Activities

Course Reserves can be accessed using the Library Resources widget on the Course Home page.

Environment-Oriented Theories and the Lifestyle Approach

  • 4a. Defining Environment-Oriented Theories
  • Textbook: Bartholomew Eldredge, R.K., Markham, C.M., Ruitter, R.A.C., Fernández, M., Kok, G., & Parcel, G. (2016). Environment-oriented theories. In Planning Health Promotion Programs: An Intervention Mapping Approach (4th ed., pp. 145–209). San Francisco: Jossey-Boss.

Ecological Models

  • 4b. Ecological Models of Population Health: An Overview
  • Course Reserve: Sallis, J.F., & Owen, N. (2015). Ecological models of health behavior. In K. Glanz, B.K. Rimer & K. Viswanath (Eds.), Health Behavior and Health Education: Theory, Research and Practice (5th ed., pp. 43–65). San Francisco: Wiley.

Systems Theory

  • 4c. Focus on Systems Theory
  • Course Reserve: Luke, D.A., & Stamatakis, K.A. (2012). Systems science methods in public health: Dynamics, networks and agents. Annual Review of Public Health, 33, 357–376.
  • Course Reserve: Peters, D.H.  (2014). The application of systems thinking to health: Why use systems thinking? Health Research Policy and Systems, 12(51), 1–6.
 

Optional Readings

  • Course Reserve: Frumkin, H., and Haines, A. (2019) Global environmental change and noncommunicable disease risks. Annual Review of Public Health 40, 261-282.
  • Course Reserve: Stokols, D., Hall, K.L., & Vogel, A.L. (2013). Transdisciplinary public health: Definitions, core characteristics, and strategies for success. In D. Haire-Joshu & T.D. McBride (Eds.), Transdisciplinary Public Health (pp. 3–30). San Francisco, Wiley.
 

Activities and Assignments