Understanding how to create healthier places: A qualitative study exploring the complex system of urban development decision-making

Anna Le Gouais; Geoff Bates; Rosalie Callway; Heeseo Rain  Kwon; Lisa Montel; Sian Peake-Jones; Jo White; Md Nazmul Hasan; Caglar Koksal; Andrew F R Barnfield; Krista Bondy; Sarah A Ayres

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103023

Understanding how to create healthier places: A qualitative study exploring the complex system of urban development decision-making

Anna Le Gouais^*
, Geoff Bates
, Rosalie Callway
, Heeseo Rain Kwon
, Lisa Montel
, Sian Peake-Jones
, Jo White
, Md Nazmul Hasan
, Caglar Koksal
, Andrew F R Barnfield
, Krista Bondy
, Sarah A Ayres

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

37 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Tackling complex system challenges like creating healthy environments requires understanding priorities and structures affecting multiple actors. This qualitative study, involving 132 multi-sectoral stakeholders spanning the urban development decision-making system, explores how to influence healthier place-making. Using thematic analysis we develop themes around competing stakeholder priorities; structural ‘rules’ and influential relationships; and justifying a focus on health, requiring greater clarity and consensus around definitions of ‘healthy’ urban development. Building on the socio-ecological model we highlight how a multi-faceted approach is required for change at multiple levels in the complex system to target individual actor motivations, organisational priorities and structural ‘rules’.

Original language	English
Article number	103023
Number of pages	12
Journal	Health and Place
Volume	81
Early online date	18 Apr 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103023
Publication status	Published - May 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the UK Prevention Research Partnership (award reference: MR/S037586/1 ), which is funded by the British Heart Foundation , Cancer Research UK , Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council , Economic and Social Research Council , Health and Social Care Research and Development Division (Welsh Government), Medical Research Council , National Institute for Health Research , Natural Environment Research Council, Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland), The Health Foundation and Wellcome .

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 13 Climate Action

Research Groups and Themes

SPS Centre for Urban and Public Policy Research
SPS Governance and Public Policy Research Centre

Keywords

Urban development
decision-making
system
qualitative
environmental determinants
population health

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10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103023Licence: CC BY

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Le Gouais, A., Bates, G., Callway, R., Kwon, H. R., Montel, L., Peake-Jones, S., White, J., Hasan, M. N., Koksal, C., Barnfield, A. F. R., Bondy, K., & Ayres, S. A. (2023). Understanding how to create healthier places: A qualitative study exploring the complex system of urban development decision-making. Health and Place, 81, Article 103023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103023

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abstract = "Tackling complex system challenges like creating healthy environments requires understanding priorities and structures affecting multiple actors. This qualitative study, involving 132 multi-sectoral stakeholders spanning the urban development decision-making system, explores how to influence healthier place-making. Using thematic analysis we develop themes around competing stakeholder priorities; structural {\textquoteleft}rules{\textquoteright} and influential relationships; and justifying a focus on health, requiring greater clarity and consensus around definitions of {\textquoteleft}healthy{\textquoteright} urban development. Building on the socio-ecological model we highlight how a multi-faceted approach is required for change at multiple levels in the complex system to target individual actor motivations, organisational priorities and structural {\textquoteleft}rules{\textquoteright}. ",

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note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the UK Prevention Research Partnership (award reference: MR/S037586/1 ), which is funded by the British Heart Foundation , Cancer Research UK , Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council , Economic and Social Research Council , Health and Social Care Research and Development Division (Welsh Government), Medical Research Council , National Institute for Health Research , Natural Environment Research Council, Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland), The Health Foundation and Wellcome . Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Authors",

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AU - Callway, Rosalie

AU - Kwon, Heeseo Rain

AU - Montel, Lisa

AU - Peake-Jones, Sian

AU - White, Jo

AU - Hasan, Md Nazmul

AU - Koksal, Caglar

AU - Barnfield, Andrew F R

AU - Bondy, Krista

AU - Ayres, Sarah A

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the UK Prevention Research Partnership (award reference: MR/S037586/1 ), which is funded by the British Heart Foundation , Cancer Research UK , Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council , Economic and Social Research Council , Health and Social Care Research and Development Division (Welsh Government), Medical Research Council , National Institute for Health Research , Natural Environment Research Council, Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland), The Health Foundation and Wellcome . Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors

PY - 2023/5

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N2 - Tackling complex system challenges like creating healthy environments requires understanding priorities and structures affecting multiple actors. This qualitative study, involving 132 multi-sectoral stakeholders spanning the urban development decision-making system, explores how to influence healthier place-making. Using thematic analysis we develop themes around competing stakeholder priorities; structural ‘rules’ and influential relationships; and justifying a focus on health, requiring greater clarity and consensus around definitions of ‘healthy’ urban development. Building on the socio-ecological model we highlight how a multi-faceted approach is required for change at multiple levels in the complex system to target individual actor motivations, organisational priorities and structural ‘rules’.

AB - Tackling complex system challenges like creating healthy environments requires understanding priorities and structures affecting multiple actors. This qualitative study, involving 132 multi-sectoral stakeholders spanning the urban development decision-making system, explores how to influence healthier place-making. Using thematic analysis we develop themes around competing stakeholder priorities; structural ‘rules’ and influential relationships; and justifying a focus on health, requiring greater clarity and consensus around definitions of ‘healthy’ urban development. Building on the socio-ecological model we highlight how a multi-faceted approach is required for change at multiple levels in the complex system to target individual actor motivations, organisational priorities and structural ‘rules’.

KW - Urban development

KW - decision-making

KW - system

KW - qualitative

KW - environmental determinants

KW - population health

U2 - 10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103023

DO - 10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103023

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

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SN - 1353-8292

VL - 81

JO - Health and Place

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M1 - 103023

ER -

Understanding how to create healthier places: A qualitative study exploring the complex system of urban development decision-making

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Research Groups and Themes

Keywords

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