Engagement Approach Research Articles

Exploring existing malaria services and the feasibility of implementing community engagement approaches amongst conflict-affected communities in Cameroon: a qualitative study

BackgroundCameroon is one of the countries with the highest burden of malaria. Since 2018, there has been an ongoing conflict in the country, which has reduced access to healthcare for populations in affected regions, and little is known about the impact on access to malaria services. The objective of this study was to understand the current situation regarding access to malaria services in Cameroon to inform the design of interventions to remove barriers and encourage the use of available services.MethodsA qualitative research study was carried out to understand the barriers preventing communities accessing care, the uptake of community health worker (CHW) services, and to gather perceptions on community engagement approaches, to assess whether these could be an appropriate mechanism to encourage uptake of community health worker (CHW) services. Twenty-nine focus group discussions and 11 in-depth interviews were carried out between May and July 2021 in two regions of Cameroon, Southwest and Littoral. Focus group discussions were held with CHWs and community members and semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders including regional government staff, council staff, community leaders and community-based organisations. The data were analysed thematically; open, descriptive coding was combined with exploration of pre-determined investigative areas.ResultsThe study confirmed that access to healthcare has become increasingly challenging in conflict-affected areas. Although the Ministry of Health are providing CHWs to improve access, several barriers remain that limit uptake of these services including awareness, availability, cost, trust in competency, and supply of testing and treatment. This study found that communities were supportive of community engagement approaches, particularly the community dialogue approach.ConclusionCommunities in conflict-affected regions of Cameroon continue to have limited access to healthcare services, in part due to poor use of CHW services provided. Community engagement approaches can be an effective way to improve the awareness and use of CHWs. However, these approaches alone will not be sufficient to resolve all the challenges faced by conflict-affected communities when accessing health and malaria services. Additional interventions are needed to increase the availability of CHWs, improve the supply of diagnostic tests and treatments and to reduce the cost of treatment for all.

Community Sustainability Through Sustainable Community-Based Tourism

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate how rural communities facing the problems of ageing population and lack of economic opportunities can be revived by adopting the approach of sustainable community-based tourism. Theoretical Framework: The study was guided by theories related to community development, placemaking, and community-based tourism. Method: The research used the case analysis method to analyze a community revitalization project in rural Taipei, Taiwan. Data were collected through field observation and interviews. The researcher was invited to participate in the related meetings and observe the practices of the community revitalization project. The researcher also interviewed the leader and volunteers of the community development project. Results and Discussion: It is found that a placemaking process mixed with top-down (facilitated) and bottom-up engagement approaches can effectively generate a sense of place among various groups of constituents. The research also found that it is critical to identify and leverage the cultural and ecological assets of the community in an innovative and integrated way so as to effectively connect the community and the society. To revive a community, volunteers played a mediating role in fulfilling the needs of the community and connecting the community with the society. Research Implications: The findings of the research can be applied to rural communities with similar problems and ecological/cultural assets. For policy makers, the study suggests that community revitalization requires an engagement process balanced with top-down (facilitated) and bottom-up approaches. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the micro-view of sustainability literature by analyzing sustainability at a community level through the aspects of community placemaking and sustainable community-based tourism.

Faculty-student rapport, student engagement, and approaches to collegiate learning: exploring a mediational model

Students value a close, supportive relationship with their professors, which has been shown to enhance their learning in higher education. However, more needs to be known about how quality faculty-student relationships shape students’ engagement and approaches to learning in higher education. In a diverse sample of 966 undergraduates from two different institutions of higher education, the current study explored the relationship between faculty-student rapport, student engagement, and deep and surface approaches to learning. Faculty-student rapport was positively correlated with student engagement (r = .50) and deep learning (r = .30), and negatively correlated with surface learning (r = -.21). Student engagement was positively correlated with deep learning (r = .70) and negatively with surface learning (r = -.32). Using multilevel modelling with students nested within classrooms, engagement was shown to mediate the effects of rapport on greater levels of deep learning (β = .31) and lower levels of surface learning (β = -.12). Although results held up across a range of demographic characteristics, some differences were noted for rapport-building among Asian American students and engagement across men versus women. These results have important implications for how faculty can engage students in the learning process by developing close, supportive relationships with their students and by extending their relationship with their students outside the classroom.

Tracking the Development of Community Engagement Over Time: Realist Qualitative Study.

A growing interest in engaging communities in the development of health care services and communities has not automatically led to progress or consensus as to how to engage communities successfully, despite the evidence base showing how to leverage enablers and alleviate barriers. To bridge the gap between the evidence base and which community engagement (CE) approaches have actually been applied in practice over time, this study aims to investigate how CE approaches have changed over the past 4 years in 6 different regions in the Netherlands and citizens' and professionals' experiences underlying these changes. For the last stage of a multiple case study following the development of CE approaches in 6 different regions in the Netherlands, a realist qualitative case study was conducted. To investigate how CE approaches had changed over the past 4 years, data from the entire 4 years of the study were used, including documents, interview transcripts, and observations. To examine citizens' and professionals' experiences underlying these changes, new interviews were conducted. The latest interview results were discussed with a panel to ensure the results had face validity. The regions had implemented different types of CE approaches over the past 4 years and were adapting these approaches over time. Many of the (remaining) approaches may be operating on a smaller scale. The study identified the following overarching themes along which CE had been adapted: fewer region-wide approaches and more community-focused approaches, more focus on building relationships with (already engaged) citizens and community-led initiatives, and more focus on practical and tangible health promotion and social cohesion activities and less focus on complex "abstract" programs. The study identified a further 4 overarching themes highlighting citizens' and professionals' experiences underlying these changes in the CE approaches: a lack of engagement environment, need for facilitative leadership from organizations, need for a clear and shared vision underscoring the importance of CE, and misalignment between citizens' and professionals' perspectives and motivations for CE. All participants had experienced the engagement environment as insufficient. To support CE, professionals experienced the need to develop and receive more facilitative leadership and to develop approaches better equipped to involve citizens in the decision-making process. Citizens experienced the need to better align citizens' and professionals' motivations and aims for CE approaches and to receive longer-term financial support for their community-led initiatives. This study suggests that CE has not yet been embedded within organizational cultures. This has arguably meant that the (remaining) CE approaches are operating on a smaller scale. To enable the further development of CE approaches, an investment in the engagement environment and a shared vision is required. Only then could CE within the regions move beyond the more seemingly smaller-scale CE approaches.

Recruitment of a Diverse Community-based Older Adult Cohort for a Longitudinal Aging Study: The 15104 Seniors Project.

Enrolling individuals from underrepresented ethnoracial groups in aging research is often a challenge. We sought a diverse sample of older adults from a small-town area for a longitudinal aging study. We employed an intensive community engagement approach encompassing a range of recruitment strategies. Over 4 years a steady trickle of individuals, 66% self-identifying as Black, signed up for study information; the proportion of those who eventually enroll in the study has been rising each year, from 68% to 94%. Community events, word-of-mouth referrals, and mailed postcards brought in the most contacts. The highest percentage of contacts who ultimately enrolled were from postcards, flyers, and word-of-mouth. Significantly more word-of-mouth referrals were endorsed by Black individuals than White and by Black men than other race/sex groups. We have had some success in building relationships and trust with the local community, enrolling Black study participants in a proportion equal to their representation in the target community using a variety of recruitment methods. Patience, immersion in the community, and partnerships with key community members alongside traditional advertisements, and the utilization of study participants as recruiters are critical to designing optimal, targeted, recruitment strategies.

Enhancing vaccination uptake through community engagement: evidence from China

With growing recognition of the importance of community engagement in addressing public health challenges, its role in promoting healthy behaviors and preventing infectious diseases has gained attention. However, vaccination coverage remains a significant concern in many developing countries. While previous studies have linked community engagement to positive health outcomes, there is a gap in understanding its influence on individual vaccination choices, particularly in the context of developing countries. Utilizing data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), this study examines the impact of community engagement on COVID-19 and flu vaccination uptake among 7281 individuals. Community engagement, measured by community vaccination notifications, serves as the key independent variable. The study employs Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) methods to analyze the relationship between community engagement and vaccination behavior. The analysis reveals a positive association between community engagement and vaccination rates. Specifically, individuals receiving notifications were more likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine compared to non-recipients (vaccination rates: 100% vs. 53.3%), and flu vaccination rates were also significantly higher among those notified (2.7% vs. 1.9%). Mechanism analysis suggests that individuals receiving community notifications are more aware of the benefits of vaccination, leading to higher vaccination rates among this group. This study underscores the effectiveness of community engagement strategies in promoting positive vaccination behavior among individuals in China. By enhancing awareness and trust in immunization, community engagement initiatives play a crucial role in shaping health behaviors and improving vaccination uptake. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating community engagement approaches into public health interventions to address vaccination challenges.

Participatory Arts-based Game Design: Mela, a Serious Game to Address SGBV in Ethiopia

<p>The emerging body of work on participatory game design (PGD) highlights the significance of working with end-users’ voices as the starting point. This is particularly critical in serious games that seek to impact social change in areas such as sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). This article, which is based on fieldwork with 16 college instructors in four agricultural colleges in rural Ethiopia, draws together concepts of participatory visual methods (particularly cellphilming), PGD and a game universe perspective to offer an engaging and interactive approach to the design of serious games. We refer to this as ‘Participatory Arts-based Game Design’ (PAGD), an approach that was used to create Mela, a serious game to address SGBV in Ethiopian agriculture colleges. Exploring Mela game’s participatory and engaging design process, this article offers a framework for serious game development to address critical social change issues that go beyond the game itself. It has the potential to not only place the end-users at the centre but to recognize the critical role of engagement and immersivity in a field oriented towards impact and sustainability.</p>

The Psychological Effects of Environmental Degradation on Human Well-Being

Purpose: This study sought to investigate the psychological effects of environmental degradation on human well- being. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the psychological effects of environmental degradation on human well- being. Through a comprehensive review of empirical studies, it revealed the pervasive nature of environmental degradation's impact on human mental health, consistently finding associations between exposure to various environmental stressors and adverse psychological outcomes. The study emphasized the interconnectedness between environmental health and human well-being, highlighting the need for holistic approaches to sustainability that integrate mental health considerations. It underscored the importance of community engagement and participatory approaches in addressing the psychological effects of environmental degradation, advocating for community-based interventions to promote resilience and sustainable development. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Ecopsychology theory, Conservation Psychology theory and Stress and Coping theory may be used to anchor future studies on the psychological effects of environmental degradation on human well- being. The study offered valuable recommendations that contributed to theory, practice, and policy. It emphasized the need for an integrated theoretical framework that accounted for the multidimensional nature of environmental degradation and its psychological impacts. The recommendations highlighted the importance of integrating mental health considerations into environmental conservation efforts, promoting nature-based interventions, and prioritizing evidence-based policy reforms. Community engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and longitudinal research were identified as key strategies for addressing the psychological effects of environmental degradation and fostering resilience. Overall, the study provided a comprehensive roadmap for advancing understanding and addressing the complex interplay between environmental change and mental health outcomes.

Global movements for accelerating climate change action: the case of Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration

ABSTRACT Much can be learned from burgeoning climate action movements in thousands of majority world rural communities. Land degradation has increased the vulnerability of over three billion people to famine, food insecurity, water shortages, and increasingly severe weather events, trapping climate-vulnerable communities in vicious cycles of impoverishment. Yet, many communities are learning through local climate action how to escape these cycles. We offer the case of Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) as one example to understand the conditions under which impoverished rural communities address ecological degradation. Combining simple reforestation action with a community engagement approach enables farming households using FMNR to regreen their landscapes, increase food security, reduce poverty, increase resilience to climate change and transform rural development. Communities in at least 29 countries are practising FMNR, reforesting tens of millions of hectares of land, strengthening communities, and restoring landscapes. Synergies between FMNR and faith-based moral principles help boost its embrace. Across the majority world, moral imagination and reasoning help motivate emotions that sustain farmers’ local action through their hope of a better future and scale up globally important community-based agricultural movements. Such collective action movements harness synergies between climate justice, poverty reduction, and human flourishing.

Community Engagement, Jurisdictional Experience, and Previous Tobacco-Related Ordinances in Neighboring Communities as Drivers of Flavored Tobacco Bans in Los Angeles County.

We examined whether a community engagement approach and jurisdictional attributes were associated with local action to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products in Los Angeles County during 2019-2022. We estimated crude and adjusted risk ratios to examine these associations. Jurisdictions that used an active community engagement approach to adopt a flavored tobacco ban ordinance, those with previous experience adopting other tobacco-related ordinances, and those located next to communities that have an existing tobacco retail license ordinance were more likely than jurisdictions without these attributes to adopt a new ordinance to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products. Efforts to adopt such an ordinance were generally more successful in jurisdictions where community members were engaged and policy makers were familiar with the adoption of public health ordinances.

Opening science to society: how to progress societal engagement into (open) science policies.

A broad understanding of the aims and objectives of the international open science movement was recently adopted with the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, expanding the focus of open science to include scientific knowledge, infrastructures, knowledge systems and the open engagement of societal actors. In response, recent discussions on science policy practice are shifting to the implementation of open science via national policies. While policy instruments to support some aspects of open science are well-studied, guidance on the emerging 'social' aspects of open science has lagged, prompting UNESCO to generate guidance. In this paper, several authors of the UNESCO Open Science Toolkit guidance document on 'Engaging societal actors in Open Science' synthesize the scholarly underpinnings behind its recommendations. This work draws upon a targeted search from academic, policy, and grey literature in the fields of open science and community engagement, with a special focus on citizen science, to derive guidance on how to overcome barriers to the uptake of societal engagement approaches. The results present building blocks of what an enabling environment for the open engagement of societal actors could look like, identifying key considerations and reflecting on opportunities and challenges for progressing and evaluating sound open engagement of societal actors into regional & national (open) science policies.

IMPLEMENTATION OF EDUCATIONAL GAMES BASED ON ROLE PLAYING GAMES (RPG) AS A LEARNING MEDIA FOR CHARACTER EDUCATION

The escalating issue of demoralization within the younger generation in Indonesia is exacerbated by the diminishing character values, often attributed to the pervasive influence of globalization. Recognizing the inadequacy of character education in schools, there is a pressing need for more engaging and interactive approaches to instill character in the youth. One promising avenue is leveraging games, given the prevalent engagement of young people in this activity. Among the various game genres, role-playing games (RPGs) stand out as particularly popular. This study, utilizing a literature review research method with descriptive analysis, aims to elucidate the implementation of RPG-based educational games as a medium for character education in the younger generation. The literature study findings underscore the potential of RPGs to serve as effective character education tools for adolescents, stimulating essential aspects such as ethical thinking, moral reasoning, value systems, friendship, self-scaffolding, and metacognition.

‘Pastoral and ecclesial madness’ Facing the failure of ‘democratism’ within the current civil turmoil in South Africa

‘Pastoral and ecclesial madness’ Facing the failure of ‘democratism’ within the current civil turmoil in South Africa

The role of nurse-patient mutuality on self-care behaviours in patients with chronic illness.

To examine the role of nurse-patient mutuality on three self-care behaviours in chronic illness patients. A cross-sectional multi-centre study was conducted. Mutuality was measured with the Nurse-Patient Mutuality in Chronic Illness scale which has the dimensions of developing and going beyond, being a point of reference and deciding and sharing care, and self-care was measured with the Self-care of Chronic Illness Inventory (SC-CII). Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to assess the contribution of three dimensions of mutuality on self-care maintenance, monitoring and management behaviours controlling for patient gender, age, education, number of medications, and presence of a family caregiver. The sample included 465 inpatients and outpatients with at least one chronic illness. The three dimensions of mutuality had different roles in their influence on the three dimensions of self-care. Developing and going beyond was significantly associated with self-care maintenance and self-care monitoring behaviours. Point of reference was significantly associated with self-care maintenance behaviour. Deciding and sharing care was significantly associated with self-care monitoring and self-care management behaviours. The mutuality between nurse and patient may be a novel area of research to support and improve patient self-care behaviours with implications for clinical practice and education. Mutuality between nurse and patient increases patient engagement, symptom recognition, decision-making process and patient-centred approach favouring the development of self-care behaviours. Mutuality between nurse and patient is a new concept and its association with the patient outcomes could bring relevance to the nursing profession. Self-care behaviours are important in the management of chronic diseases, but are difficult to perform. Mutuality between nurse and patient influences the three different behaviours of self-care in chronic illness, for this reason it is important to increase the level of mutuality in this dyad. STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was followed in this study. Patients were involved in the sample of the study.

A Study on the Application of Virtual Reality Technology in Engish Language Education Relying on Immersive Learning Environments and Interactive Experience Design

This study delves into the application of virtual reality (VR) technology in the realm of English language education, with a focus on immersive learning environments and interactive experience design. The primary objective is to explore the efficacy of incorporating VR technology to enhance the English language learning experience for students. The research investigates the potential of immersive learning environments provided by VR technology and the impact of interactive experience design on language acquisition. The study aims to contribute valuable insights into how these technological advancements can revolutionize English language education, offering an engaging and effective approach to language learning. Through a thorough examination of the immersive and interactive aspects of VR technology, the research seeks to provide a foundation for the integration of these technologies into English language education practices, ultimately paving the way for more innovative and engaging language learning experiences.

Internationalization Development Strategies of Applied Local Undergraduate Colleges and Universities Based on Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence Customer Research

In an era of globalization and rapid technological advancement, internationalization has become a vital requirement for higher education institutions around the world. This research investigates the efficacy of incorporating virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into internationalization initiatives for applied local undergraduate institutions and universities. A multistep technique was used, which included market research, immersive customer involvement, content production, and strategic collaborations. A pilot study of 200 prospective international students looked at the influence of VR and AI-based initiatives on key recruitment indicators like application and conversion rates. The results demonstrated significant gains in both application rates and conversion rates in the experimental group compared to the control group, demonstrating the transformative potential of immersive technology and data-driven engagement approaches in higher education recruitment and retention efforts. Furthermore, increases in engagement time and satisfaction scores demonstrated the beneficial effects of VR and AI technology on student engagement and contentment. This study adds to the expanding body of literature on the interface of technology and international education, providing useful insights for institutions looking to increase their worldwide reach and competitiveness. However, further study is needed to investigate the long-term effectiveness and scalability of VR and AI-based projects in higher education internationalization. Overall, this study indicates the potential for VR and AI technology to transform internationalization policies and build a more inclusive and integrated learning environment in higher education.

Legal Framework of Land Engineering: Compliance with Environmental Regulations to Reduce Pollution

Research in relation to land technology should be conducted guided by concerns for environmental sustainability. There must be a robust framework that regulates land use and development, taking into account changes in the environment due to biological, human-made substances and other factors. The research has shown how important it is to have all stakeholders involved in regulation process through Integrated Stakeholder Engagement Approach (ISEA) which is unique. Proposed ISEA approach can bring together different stakeholders including government agencies, corporate experts, environmental advocates as well as community groups to come up with appropriate regulatory frameworks. One model of reducing the impacts of a building is to build it on a strong foundation. It is necessary today for such studies to include simulation assessment so as to evaluate the effectiveness of the regulatory system. This review examines possible outcomes and environmental implications associated with specific regulations based on certain zoning policies are useful for decision-making and policy choices. By minimizing pollution while using simulation analysis techniques among different stakeholders, this initiative wants to facilitate resilient sustainable land improvement.

Cancer-Related Health and Educational Needs and Faith-Based Health Beliefs in an Urban Muslim Population

Cancer screening behaviors in Muslims are under-researched, and there is limited data on how it relates to their unique cultural and religious beliefs. We assessed cancer prevention and screening-related health needs in the Washington DC area. We developed the needs assessment questionnaires and recruitment strategy in collaboration with key faith leaders from four mosques in our catchment area. A total of 203 participants were recruited through community outreach and engagement approaches and were included in the discussion when developing the needs assessment to ensure questions were religiously and culturally sensitive. Of the 203 participants, 56% of women reported receiving screening for a mammogram, while 83% of women reported receiving a screening for cervical cancer. Among men, 45% reported receiving a prostate cancer antigen test to screen for prostate cancer. Among both men and women, 35% reported ever receiving a screening for colorectal cancer. Women reported relying more on their faith when dealing with health concerns than men. Those who did not get screened for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer relied more on their faith than those who did get screened for these cancers. Participants expressed interest in having health initiatives around cancer education, screening, and survivorship inside mosques. Faith beliefs can influence cancer screening behaviors; however, the relationship between these two variables needs further examination. Continued engagement with key faith leaders can help in leveraging religious beliefs to promote health education and cancer screening.

Preserving cognitive vitality: Value of cognitive rehabilitation in addressing cognitive deficits in the elderly.

The recent advancements in medical sciences has resulted in not only increasing life expectancy of the elderly but has also improved survival rate in elderly with neurological disorders including those with head trauma . This has resulted in an increasing number of persons with cognitive deficits. Cognitive functions such as executive functioning and memory play an important role in success of a rehabilitation programme and therefore can positively contribute to public health goals. Considering cognitive decline at present has no cure and pharmacological therapies have a limited role, efforts are usually made to delay the onset and progression of cognitive decline and improve quality of life. Literature suggests that active life style, regular exercise, actively performing activities of daily living can have a significant impact on cognitive skills. In addition different models of cognitive rehabilitation and approaches can be integrated into practice to improve cognitive reserve and cause neuroplastic changes to facilitate cognitive function by providing cognitive stimulus and training. Moreover with technological advancements, the computerized cognitive intervention field is growing. This usually integrates conventional cognitive intervention with digital smart devices to provide an engaging and cost effective alternate approach. This review aims to highlight the importance of cognitive rehabilitation and suggest a few evidence based approaches that may be considered by rehabilitation professionals to promote and improve cognitive rehabilitation in Pakistan.

Affinity chromatography reveals direct binding of the GATA4–NKX2-5 interaction inhibitor (3i-1000) with GATA4

Heart failure is a serious medical condition with a poor prognosis. Current treatments can only help manage the symptoms and slow the progression of heart failure. However, there is currently no cure to prevent and reverse cardiac remodeling. Transcription factors are in a central role in various cellular processes, and in the heart, GATA4 and NKX2-5 transcription factors mediate hypertrophic responses and remodeling. We have identified compounds that modulate the synergistic interaction of GATA4 and NKX2-5 and shown that the most promising compound (1, 3i-1000) is cardioprotective in vitro and in vivo. However, direct evidence of its binding site and mechanism of action has not been available. Due to the disordered nature of transcription factors, classical target engagement approaches cannot be utilized. Here, we synthesized a small-molecule ligand-binding pulldown probe of compound 1 to utilize affinity chromatography alongside CETSA, AlphaScreen, and molecular modeling to study ligand binding. These results provide the first evidence of direct physical binding of compound 1 selectively to GATA4. While developing drugs that target transcription factors presents challenges, advances in technologies and knowledge of intrinsically disordered proteins enable the identification of small molecules that can selectively target transcription factors.