Advancing the application of systems thinking in health: advice seeking behavior among primary health care physicians in Pakistan

This study examines the human advice-seeking behavior of primary health care (PHC) physicians in a rural district of Pakistan. This study analyzes the degree to which the existing PHC system supports their access to human advice, and explores in what ways this system might be strengthened to better meet provider needs. The paper concludes that the absence of functional referral systems, limited effective linkages between PHC and higher levels of care, and a focus on programmatic targets rather than clinical care have each contributed to the isolation of physicians and reactive information seeking behavior.

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Malik A, Willis C, Hamid S, Ulikpan A, Hill P. Advancing the application of systems thinking in health: advice seeking behaviour among primary health care physicians in Pakistan. Health Research Policy and Systems. 2014;12(43). doi:10.1186/1478-4505-12-43