If things were simple, word would have gotten around. Can complexity science help us improve pediatric research?
Pediatric Research, vol. 98, pp. 442–451
Abstract
Complexity science is a discipline which explores how complex systems behave and how we interact with them. Though it is widely implemented outside medicine, particularly in the sciences involving human behavior, but also in the natural sciences such as physics and biology, there are only a few applications within medical research. We propose that complexity science can provide new and helpful perspectives on complex pediatric medical problems. It can help us better understand complex systems and develop ways to cope with their inherent unpredictabilities. In this article, we provide a brief introduction of complexity science, explore why many medical problems can be considered 'complex', and discuss how we can apply this perspective to pediatric research. IMPACT: Current methods in pediatric research often focus on single mechanisms or interventions instead of systems, and tend to simplify complexity. This may not be appropriate. Complexity science provides a framework and a toolbox to better address complex problems. This review provides a starting point for the application of complexity science in pediatric research.
Authors 6
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Suzanne F Fustolo-Gunnink corresponding Aachen Department of Pediatrics Division of Neonatology, Leiden University Medical Center
University of Amsterdam · Leiden University Medical Center · Sanquin · Willem-Alexander Kinderziekenhuis
Affiliation as printed
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden, the Netherlands. s.f.gunnink@amsterdamumc.nl
Institute for Advanced Study, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. s.f.gunnink@amsterdamumc.nl
Sanquin Research & LAB Services, Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. s.f.gunnink@amsterdamumc.nl
Institute for Advanced Study, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Radboud University Medical Center · Radboud Institute for Health Sciences · Radboud University Nijmegen · Amalia Kinderziekenhuis
Affiliation as printed
Department of Neonatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Amalia Children's Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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Leiden University Medical Center
Affiliation as printed
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
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University of Copenhagen · Rigshospitalet
Affiliation as printed
Department of Neonatology, Rigshospitalet and Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Enrico Lopriore Aachen Department of Pediatrics Division of Neonatology, Leiden University Medical Center
Leiden University Medical Center · Willem-Alexander Kinderziekenhuis
Affiliation as printed
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden, the Netherlands
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University College London · Utrecht University
Affiliation as printed
Department of Science and Technology Studies, University College London, London, UK
Freudenthal Institute, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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