Agent-Based Modeling: A Method for Investigating Challenging Research Problems. Issue 6 (November 2019) - McLean, Allen
Abstract : Background: For all our successes, many urgent health problems persist, and although some of these problems may be explored with established research methods, others remain uniquely challenging to investigate—maybe even impossible to study in the real world because of practical and pragmatic obstacles inherent to the nature of the research question. Objectives: The purpose of this review article is to introduce agent-based modeling (ABM) and simulation and demonstrate its value and potential as a novel research method applied in nursing science. Methods: An introduction to ABM and simulation is described. Examples of current research literature on the subject are provided. A case study example of community nursing and opioid dependence is presented. Results: The use of ABM and simulation in human health research has increased dramatically over the past decade, and meaningful research is now commonly found published widely in respected, peer-reviewed journals. Absent from this list is innovative ABM and simulation research published by nurse researchers in nursing-specific journals. Discussion: ABM and simulation is a powerful method with tremendous potential in nursing research. It is vital that nursing embrace and adopt innovative and advanced research methods if we are to remain a progressive voice in health research, practice, and policy.