School of Health & Wellbeing

More and more people are living with two or more long-term health conditions at the same time, such as diabetes, heart disease or depression. This is known as multimorbidity. It is more common in people living in poorer or more disadvantaged areas and can lead to a lower quality of life, greater use of health and care services, and wider differences in health between communities.

One way to improve health is to make changes to the places where people live. This could include improving housing, providing better access to parks and green spaces, or making public transport easier to use. However, we do not yet know enough about whether these changes can help prevent people from developing multiple long-term health conditions, or whether they reduce or increase health inequalities.

The SIMPLE project aims to create a computer model that represents people and communities across Scotland. The model will simulate how people's health may change over time, taking into account factors such as their existing health, behaviours, interactions with other people, and the places where they live.

We will then use the model to explore what might happen if different public health policies or changes to local areas were introduced. This will help us understand which approaches are most likely to improve health, who is most likely to benefit, where they may work best, and whether they could help narrow the health gap between different groups.

Ultimately, the SIMPLE project will give public health professionals and policy-makers a new way to test ideas and make informed decisions about how best to improve health in Scotland. The aim is to help develop fairer and more effective approaches to reducing the growing number of people living with multiple long-term health conditions.

We want to hear from people with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds. In particular, we aim to include people and communities who may experience greater health inequalities or face barriers to good health and healthcare. This will help ensure that different voices and experiences from across Scotland are represented in the project.

Taking part will involve sharing your views and experiences to help shape the SIMPLE project. You may be invited to join discussions or workshops with the research team and other members of the public.

You will help us understand what matters most to people and communities, advise us on whether the computer model reflects real-life experiences, and help us think about which public health policies or changes to local areas should be explored.

You may also help us make sure that the project findings are clear, useful and shared in ways that are accessible to the public. You do not need any research or technical knowledge to take part.

Taking part is an opportunity to use your lived experience to help shape research that aims to improve health and reduce health inequalities in Scotland. You will have the chance to share your views, meet others, and contribute to decisions about the project and how its findings are used.

As a thank you for your time and contribution, refreshments will be provided, travel costs will be reimbursed, and participants will receive a £30 voucher per session.

Fore more information, please email Jeeva Macmillan-John, PhD Researcher, University of Glasgow: jeeva.macmillan-john@glasgow.ac.uk

First published: 14 September 2026