Table 1 The benefits of using simulation modelling for the design and analysis of public health policy [71,72]

● Provides a framework for operationalising vast amounts of often inaccessible scientific information

● Assists with more systematic decision-making where there are evidence gaps

● Actively engages multi-disciplinary stakeholders in model design

● Elucidates leverage points in the system, where small inputs result in large impacts

● Facilitates the development of a common ‘mental map’ for progress and consensus on optimal policy decisions

● Guides prioritisation and planning for resource efficiency and simulates scenarios that can add strength to business case development

● Provides a formal channel for ongoing engagement and communication/information translation between researchers and policy makers as the model is updated to incorporate additional or changing evidence over time

● Provides a framework for future research and evaluation of policy implementation

● The model is available for routine use to simulate and analyse policy options/changes in a policy friendly timeframe

● Can capture complex influences on a particular public health problem including political factors (national mood; actions and reactions of powerful vested interests, e.g. lobbyists, advocacy groups to simulated policy decisions)

● Assists with countering the tradition of relying on intuition for policy decisions

● Can facilitate the identification of policy responses that have improved contextual orientation and increased effectiveness

● Can facilitate cross-sectoral communication and synthesis of knowledge