Engagement Approach Research Articles

From community engagement to community inclusion for socially and procedurally just flood risk governance

AbstractUrban flood risk governance (FRG) approaches increasingly seek to engage local communities—and their surrounding ecosystem in natural flood management (NFM) approaches—to co‐produce socio‐ecological resilience. This systematic review investigates current approaches, barriers, and enablers of community engagement in urban FRG through a flood risk justice lens. Employing a systematic search and an adapted ‘best fit’ framework synthesis methodology, and reporting results according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses transparent reporting system. The central theme of inclusivity emerged from the synthesis, which integrated sub‐themes of relationality, non‐universalism, power structures, and personal paradigms in a conceptual model. Results invite FRG practitioners to reframe community engagement as community inclusion in order to respond to the procedural, social, and environmental justice concerns of urban ‘flood disadvantage’ which may be reinforced by current engagement approaches. Critical discussion of evidence—informed by the conceptual model—recognised five principles for realising procedurally just community inclusion; promoting the co‐production of integrated community inclusion strategies alongside the communities themselves. The study identified a gap in the literature concerning community involvement in NFM; highlighting a priority for future research with a view to realise more inclusive FRG.

Embedding voices of under-served communities in Health Research Priority Setting in Thailand

Health research is needed to develop new treatments, diagnostic methods and prevention strategies for many diseases, but resources are limited particularly in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Our proposed project involves in-depth engagement with community advisory boards and existing community groups in healthcare research priority setting in Thailand. We will use Wellcome’s “Responsive Dialogues” engagement approach, focusing on “underserved” groups, as their voices are seldom heard in healthcare research priority setting. We estimate that we will engage with 6–8 community groups involving 48–80 participants. Our objectives are firstly, to contribute to the health research agenda setting in Thailand for government, non-governmental actors, academia, and others who conduct health research in the next 5 to 10 years. Secondly, we aim to identify ethical and practical issues related to healthcare research priority setting, specifically in relation to involving under-served communities.

Enhancing preparedness by developing robust implementation

Abstract In EUVABECO, a goal is defined as a public health objective that motivates a vaccination practice. A vaccination practice encompasses specific methods or approaches used in vaccination efforts, while a tool refers to a tangible resource or software developed to support the implementation of these practices. EUVABECO is undertaking a series of structured activities from January 2024 until mid-2026. These include mapping innovative practices, deriving requirements for tools and validation plans, developing implementation plans, and facilitating their adoption by European MS. The project will also evaluate, validate, and verify these plans to ensure their efficacy and sustainability. EUVABECO’s methodology is informed by the Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC) framework, utilizing the V-model to ensure a strong linkage between the development and testing phases, thereby guaranteeing a cohesive workflow. Each implementation plan developed will feature comprehensive policy recommendations and a workplan that covers the necessary organizational, technical, legal, and ethical aspects required for the tool’s deployment. Additionally, these plans will include tailored strategies to enhance the tool’s functionality during outbreaks, criteria for verifying implementation effectiveness, and financial considerations critical for supporting adoption. The implementation plans will undergo a rigorous validation process to assess their suitability, transferability, and sustainability across MS. The ultimate goal is to disseminate validated plans whilst ensuring a parallel multistakeholder engagement approach to ensure MS are actively involved in key project phases, thus, facilitating rapid uptake of said plans across EU MS and a transformation of the vaccination ecosystem across Europe.

Cafecitos as a Conduit for Latinx Family Engagement Through Community Cultural Wealth

This critical ethnography presents findings from a two-year-long study of Latinx family engagement using cafecitos in a dual-language elementary school. Using ethnographic approaches to data collection and analysis, the researchers analyzed how to implement cafecito monthly meetings with parents that focused on engagement approaches and arts integration surrounding a community cultural wealth model. Findings revealed a correlation between positive family and student identity development because of the integration of community members as experts within the cafecitos. We share recommendations for using cafecitos as a tool for parental engagement to create a more inclusive, supportive, and culturally responsive environment that benefits students and their families.

Community-Engaged Approaches for Improving the Inclusion of Diverse Communities in a Nutrition Clinical Trial

Background: Cardiometabolic disease (CMD) disproportionately affects African American/Black (AA) and Latino communities. CMD disparities are exacerbated by their underrepresentation in clinical trials for CMD treatments including nutritional interventions. The study aimed to (1) form a precision nutrition community consultant panel (PNCCP) representative of Latino and AA communities in Los Angeles to identify barriers and facilitators to recruitment and retention of diverse communities into nutrition clinical trials and (2) develop culturally informed strategies to improve trial diversity. Methods: A deliberative community engagement approach was used to form a PNCCP for the Nutrition for Precision Health (NPH) trial, part of the of the All of Us research initiative. The PNCCP included individuals that provide services for Latino and AA communities who met during 11 virtual sessions over 1 year. Discussion topics included enhancing recruitment and cultural acceptance of the NPH trial. We summarized CCP recommendations by theme using an inductive qualitative approach. Results: The PNCCP included 17 adults (35% AA, 47% Latino). Four thematic recommendations emerged: reducing structural barriers to recruitment, the need for recruitment materials to be culturally tailored and participant-centered, community-engaged trial recruitment, and making nutrition trial procedures inclusive and acceptable. We outlined the study response to feedback, including the constraints that limited implementation of suggestions. Conclusion: This study centers community voices regarding the recruitment and retention of AA and Latino communities into a nutrition clinical trial. It highlights the importance of community engagement early on in protocol development and maintaining flexibility to enhance inclusion of diverse communities in nutrition clinical trials.

Community-Based Health Information Systems in Africa: A Scoping Review of Data Generation, Utilization, and Community Empowerment

Introduction The community-based health information system (CBHIS) is a vital component of the community health system, as it assesses community-level healthcare service delivery and generates data for community health programme planning, monitoring, and evaluation. CBHIS promotes data-driven decision-making, by identifying priority interventions and programs, guiding resource allocation, and contributing to evidence-based policy development. Objective This scoping review aims to comprehensively examine the use of CBHIS in African countries, focusing on data generation, pathways, utilisation of CBHIS data, community accessibility to the data and use of the data to empower communities. Methods We utilised Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review methodology. We searched eight databases: PubMed, EMBASE, HINARI, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and grey literature databases (Open Grey and OAIster). We synthesised findings using a thematic approach. Results Our review included 55 articles from 27 African countries, primarily in Eastern and Southern Africa, followed by West Africa. Most of the studies were either quantitative (42%) or qualitative (33%). Paper-based systems are primarily used for data collection in most countries, but some have adopted electronic/mobile-based systems or both. The data flow for CBHIS varies by country and the tools used for data collection. CBHIS data informs policies, resource allocation, staffing, community health dialogues, and commodity supplies for community health programmes. Community dialogue is the most common approach for community engagement, empowerment, and sharing of CBHIS data with communities. Community empowerment tends towards health promotion activities and health provider-led approaches. Conclusion CBHIS utilises both paper-based and electronic-based systems to collect and process data. Nevertheless, most countries rely on paper-based systems. Most of the CBHIS investments have focused on digitisation and enhancing data collection, process, and quality. However, there is a need to shift the emphasis towards enabling data utilisation at the community level and community empowerment.

Using a stakeholder engagement approach to inform professional development programs to promote education for sustainability in schools

This exploratory study highlights the experience and perspective of educators and school leaders implementing sustainability as a cross-curriculum priority (S-CCP) in Queensland, Australia. The barriers and facilitators for integrating S-CCP were explored through qualitative interviews (N = 16). The findings underscored a profound knowledge gap wherein sustainability was interpreted narrowly, emphasizing environmental actions and overlooking the broader socio-economic and equity dimensions. This misperception led to multiple challenges within and outside of the classroom as Education for Sustainability (EfS) was perceived to be tied to environmentally sustainable facilities that require financial resources. A lack of leadership support was also noted. The experience of the educators successfully navigating these barriers are detailed. Furthermore, the findings highlighted the complexities and nuances of sustainability education and provided valuable insights for the design of professional development programs.

Development of Quran and Hadith-Based Interactive Learning Media

This paper aims to develop interactive learning media based on Quran and Hadith that can be used in learning in Islamic schools. This media is designed to increase students' understanding of religious values through a more engaging and interactive approach. The research method used is the qualitative descriptive method. The results of the study show that the learning media developed is effective in increasing students' understanding of Quran and Hadith material. In addition, students also show improvement in understanding and application of the values taught in the Quran and Hadith. The development of interactive learning media based on Quran and Hadith is an effective solution to improve the quality of religious learning in Islamic schools. This media not only helps students understand religious concepts, but also supports the application of these values in daily life.

Unlocking Success: Community Engagement for Enhanced HIV Care Outcomes.

Background: Though social determinants are the primary drivers of health, few studies of people living with HIV (PLWH) focus on non-clinical correlates of insecure and/or fragmented connections with the care system. Our team has used linked clinical and multisector non-clinical data to study how residential mobility and connection to social services influence the HIV care continuum. We engage a diverse group of invested patients and community members to guide and inform this research. Our objective is to generate stakeholder-informed, research-based interventions that are relevant to the community, and to share our engagement approach and findings so that other researchers can do the same. Methods: Our research team partnered with the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute's Research Jam, to develop and implement a human-centered design research plan to engage with individuals with lived experience relevant to our research. We recruited a panel composed of PLWH as well as clinicians and individuals from agencies that provide medical and non-medical services to PLWH in Marion County, Indiana. We used a variety of human-centered design tools and activities to engage individuals during six sessions, with results informing our engagement and research activities. Results: Since the inception of the project, 48 individuals have joined the stakeholder panel. Thirty-five are actively engaged and have participated in one or more of the six sessions conducted to date. The panel helped guide and prioritize analyses, aided in identification of data missing from our ecosystem, helped interpret results, provided feedback on future interventions, and co-presented with us at a local health equity conference. Conclusions: We utilized community engagement to expand the scope of our research and found that the process provided value to both stakeholders and research team members. Human-centered design enhanced this partnership by keeping it person-centered, developing empathy and trust, increasing stakeholder retention, and empowering stakeholders to collaborate meaningfully with the research team. The use of these methods is essential to conducting relevant, impactful, and sustainable research. We anticipate that these methods will be important for academic and public health researchers wishing to engage with and integrate the ideas of community stakeholders.

Cooperation in common property resource management: A group engagement approach

This study explored motivational cooperative behaviour types as a communal resource in a rural Zimbabwean setting. Using the group engagement model, the study examined motivational cooperative behaviour types in managing in managing water resources. Thirty community residents of Mhondoro-Ngezi District in Zimbabwe participated in the study (female = 13, community leaders = 10). Data were collected through one-on-one interviews. Thematic analysis revealed internal motivations of social altruism in discretionary cooperative behaviours of water conservation and external motivations of sanctions for compliance with customary regulations stipulating use of water sources. Discretionary cooperative behaviours of water conservation were characterised by individual willingness to comply with myths regarding water usage. External motivations of sanctions for compliance with customary regulations were about collective community activities. Motivations for managing a scarce community resource prioritised fair use, access, and sustenance for collective benefit. These findings suggest that voluntariness in cooperation in common property resource management is important for the sustainable use of scarce resources for consideration in community implementation of regulations.

First responder ladder of community engagement: Understanding community-facing activities during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Despite advancements in our understanding of community engagement, questions remain as to how these efforts are applied in practice across specific contexts. First response is one such profession that has received minimal attention in the community engagement literature, even though the work of first responders frequently requires close engagement with communities to maintain safety and promote public health. To address this gap, we analyzed how first responders conceptualized community engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through an analysis of semi-structured interviews collected from U.S. first responders (n = 91), we developed a First Responder Ladder of Community Engagement informed by Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation. We find that first responder community engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic predominantly focused on information sharing and offered minimal evidence of higher levels of engagement, highlighting the potential disconnect between theories and practice of community engagement. These findings advance our knowledge of the application, variations, and broader framings of community engagement approaches used by first responders, and other fields of practice.

MoTE: Desarrollo de una Herramienta Informática para el Monitoreo del Compromiso Estudiantil

Student engagement in learning is crucial for academic achievement, motivation, and active participation. However, measuring and accounting for student engagement, both in face-to-face and online sessions, remains a challenge for educators. Existing methods, such as self-reports, interviews, and even real-time eye tracking tools, lack a multidimensional engagement approach (i.e., cognitive, affective, and behavioral). In response, this article presents the development of MoTE, a real-time tool for monitoring student engagement. Following a Design-Based Research methodology, we detail the phases of identification of indicators and visualizations to meet the needs of teachers and students, culminating with the proposal of the architecture, and the implementation of an initial prototype. It ends with the evaluation with 146 students in face-to-face and online contexts, providing valuable information on the indicators, dashboards, and functionalities to design an effective tool for monitoring student engagement. This work not only proposes an innovative approach to assessing engagement but also opens avenues for future research and practical applications in education.

Researcher and partner perspectives on the relationship between engagement in research and three uses of patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research study findings

BackgroundThe uptake of research findings into clinical practice is critical to providing health care that improves health outcomes for patients. This study explored how Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) awardees perceive the relationship between engagement of patients and other partners in research and three uses, or applications, of patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) study findings, which may lead to uptake in clinical practice: (1) Integration into clinical practice guidelines, recognized point-of-care decision tools, or documents that may inform policy; (2) Implementation beyond the study, including at sites outside of the study setting or patient populations; and (3) Active dissemination of findings to specific audiences by parties external to the study team.MethodsThis exploratory qualitative study examined awardee and partner perceptions of what led to each use of study findings and how engaged partners contributed. We purposively selected PCORI-funded research projects with documentation of each use and conducted virtual interviews with 42 individuals (15 PIs or project leads, 2 research team members, and 25 partners) from 17 projects. We conducted thematic analysis of individual projects or project sets, across projects within each use case, and across the three uses.ResultsParticipants described three primary activities in which engaged partners made contributions before, during and after CER studies that facilitated the use of study findings: (1) generating relevant study findings, (2) distributing study findings strategically, and (3) making connections to people or organizations outside the study team. In addition, engagement continued to facilitate the use of study findings during subsequent PCORI-funded implementation and dissemination-specific projects, with partners adapting interventions and creating and tailoring dissemination messages and products. Finally, participants described attributes of teams’ engagement approaches that may have supported partner contributions, including early and ongoing engagement, leveraging partners’ connections and understanding of community needs, and using multiple engagement approaches.ConclusionThis study identified examples of how engagement can help facilitate the use of CER study findings, especially when engagement contributions occur in meaningful ways. Findings from this study suggest a framework for future research on the relationship between engagement in research and uptake of study findings into clinical practice.

Investigating users’ perspectives of using zoom for ELT: A teaching–learning lens

This study investigates the effectiveness, potential, and challenges of utilizing the Zoom platform for online English language instruction, as perceived by EFL university students and their instructors. The research employed a mixed methods approach, integrating quantitative data from 67 student participants and qualitative insights from seven teachers. An ARCS (attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction) model questionnaire was used to assess students’ perceptions, while teachers’ perspectives were obtained through semi-structured interviews. The survey results were analyzed using SPSS v 24.0, and the interview data were thematically scrutinized. The findings indicated that Zoom effectively met students’ learning needs, captured their attention, and provided relevant content. However, sustaining long-term engagement and fostering students’ confidence were the remarkable challenges. From the teachers’ perspective, Zoom’s features, such as breakout rooms and interactive whiteboards, enhanced the learning experience. Notably, discrepancies emerged between student and teacher perceptions, particularly regarding technical difficulties, the absence of non-verbal cues, and attention retention issues. To address these challenges, the study recommends prioritizing technical support, providing orientation sessions, refining engagement approaches, and adopting blended learning to maximize the potential of Zoom. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of addressing technical and engagement barriers to enhance the effectiveness of online platforms used for English language teaching (ELT).

Interrogating the effectiveness of service engagement for underserved populations in complex health and social care systems: towards an equitable engagement strategy

There are increased sector-wide efforts within health and social care systems to engage those with lived experience in service design, delivery, and monitoring – aiming to secure more equitable health outcomes. However, critical knowledge gaps persist around how national whole-system engagement strategies can account for the challenges experienced by populations that encounter exclusion within complex multi-layered systems. This includes a failure to delineate shared challenges across groups, and to develop transferable cross-group frameworks to assist sector-wide change. There is, therefore, a danger that those groups already least heard will be collectively left behind. With a view to informing a more inclusive engagement strategy in Ireland, this national study aims to investigate multi-level (policy and strategic, operational, on-the-ground services, individual) shared challenges impacting engagement for five populations who have been identified as underserved groups in a complex health and social care system, including: (1) those who misuse drugs and alcohol, (2) those who are experiencing homelessness, (3) those experiencing mental health, (4) migrants and those of minority ethnicies, and (5) Irish Travellers. Adopting a mixed-methods approach which draws on an evidence-informed multistakeholder perspective, this study employs data from: focus groups and life-course interviews with lived-experience populations (n=136), five focus groups (n=39) and a national on-line survey (n=320) with population-specific services providers; and national-level stakeholder interviews (n=9). Two cross-group participatory consultative forums with lived-experience and provider participants (n=28) were used to co-produce priority action areas based on study findings. This article presents findings on shared challenges in engaging these groups around leadership and commitment, implementation and action, population capacities, trust, and representation, stigma, and discrimination. Derived from these challenges, six development areas are presented to advance an inclusive equitable engagement approach in Ireland. These comprise: 1) balancing top-down prioritisation, and bottom-up direction; 2) sustaining multi-level, multi-form implementation; 3) measuring effectiveness and action; 4) embedding inclusive equitable engagement; 5) trust as a prerequisite, and outcome; and 6) an equalising, agency empowering agenda.

Descriptive and content analysis of breast cancer vlogs on YouTube.

258 Background: Vlogs, or “video blogs,” are personally-created experiential videos based on wide-ranging topics, usually posted to YouTube. Many women with breast cancer (BC) document their cancer experiences in YouTube vlogs. These may have the potential to serve as peer-to-peer support and provide community. This study provides a descriptive and content analysis of vlogs by women with BC. Methods: YouTube was searched in incognito mode in 11/2023 using the search terms “breast cancer vlog.” A maximum of 10 videos/creator were included based on viewership and date created.Video characteristics collected included: title, length, number of views, likes, comments, and playlist inclusion. Videos were assessed for sponsorship, presence of explanation and discussion on BC, type of content, and themes. Creator characteristics included age, location, and engagement approaches. Descriptive and content analysis were performed to assess and analyze video content and potential areas where peer-to-peer support may be provided. Results: 90 vlogs by 13 creators were included, all originating from personal accounts. Mean video length, number of views, and number of comments were 21.4 minutes (SD 9.1), 266,780 (SD 534,465), and 1485 (SD 3422), respectively. 38.9% included hashtags. 12.2% included paid sponsorships. Most common filming location was at home (96.7%), followed by the hospital (31.1%), or in the car (21.1%). Home vlogs were most often set in the living room (44.3%), bedroom (33.0%), or kitchen (20.6%). 56.7% included visuals of treatment as well as physical findings. Creators addressed motivation for vlogging in 48.9%; the two most common reasons were wanting to build a community and helping others in a similar situation. In 46.7%, creators explicitly expressed emotion. Most common themes were treatment (85.6%), mental health (81.1%), side effects (72.2%), appearance (63.3%), and family relationships (36.7%). Subthemes included young age, finances, and the importance of online community support. Patient-directed advice was offered in 60.0%, mostly on treatment-related issues. In 56.7%,creators provided explicit treatment definitions. Chemotherapy was discussed in 70.0%; surgery in 57.8%, primarily mastectomy; radiation in 30.0%; general side effects in 71.1%. 24.4% were about a new diagnosis. When mentioned (44.4%), most common creator location was the USA. When mentioned (30.0%), most common age demographic was 20-29 years old. Conclusions: Vlogs by women with BC receive significant levels of engagement. The dedication to building community demonstrated by vlog creators, and the personal nature of their storytelling, advice, and suggestions, may make these vlogs a potential resource for peer-to-peer support.

Unlocking the power of socially assistive robotic nurses in hospitals through innovative living lab methodology.

Objectives: Pilot 5 utilizes AI and robotics to develop a robotic nurse assisting hospital staff in response to workforce shortages and rising care demands due to an aging population. This project aims to optimize resources, reduce errors, and improve patient satisfaction through personalized care. Methods: The Living Lab approach was implemented to split the study into sprints. The first split involves working with project partners and stakeholders to define the problem, brainstorm functionalities, and identify limitations (24 participants). The second split focuses on further requirement gathering, exploring real-world use cases, and considering ethical and privacy concerns (51 participants). Results: The project used iterative development cycles (5-8 months) to continuously improve the solution. Surveys revealed high satisfaction rates, with average scores of 4.0 and 3.6 for Sprints 1 and 2, respectively. Similarly, a team morale survey indicated a positive trend, with average scores of 7.6 and 8.18 for Sprints 1 and 2, respectively. Conclusion: Pilot 5 offers a promising solution to the evolving needs of modern hospitals. This study explores the integration of a social robotic system into nursing care to enhance quality and emphasizes stakeholder engagement, participatory design, and user-centered approaches in AI healthcare solutions.

Engagement and learning approaches among medical students in an online surgical teaching programme: A cross-sectional study

Engagement and learning approaches among medical students in an online surgical teaching programme: A cross-sectional study

Intersection between person-centred practice and Montessori for dementia and ageing in residential aged care.

Internationally, person-centred care (PCC) is embedded in the language of regulations and mandated to be practised in residential aged care (RAC). Despite this, PCC has not been fully adopted in RAC in Australia and internationally, and concerns about the quality of care persist. Over the past 2 decades, Montessori for dementia and ageing has been introduced in RAC to support and inform a cultural change towards PCC. This study aimed to examine the intersection between the goals and approaches of Montessori and PCC in RAC. This qualitative descriptive study reports on a secondary analysis of qualitative data from focus groups (FGs) and interviews with residents, family-members, staff, and volunteers from eight RAC homes in Victoria, Australia. Sixteen FGs and 36 interviews were conducted. A qualitative deductive approach using researcher-developed Montessori for dementia and ageing framework for data analysis was applied. Findings provide support for the intersection between PCC and Montessori with participants' descriptions of PCC aligning with many of the goals and approaches of Montessori. Participants most commonly described Montessori approaches of engagement in daily tasks with purposeful roles and promoting cognitive abilities through multi-sensory stimulation. Least frequently-described approaches included focusing on residents' strengths/abilities, maintaining function, using familiar objects, and guided repetition. Findings have important implications for practice to use Montessori as a vehicle that supports and upskills the workforce to deliver care that is person-centred. Future research must examine the resources required to support the implementation and sustainability of Montessori as a vehicle for PCC.

Charity Starts at Home: Understanding What Drives Children from Economically Disadvantaged Communities to Engage in Social Action

This study explores motivations and barriers to social action in children from economically disadvantaged communities, through the lens of Construal Level Theory. Results from a qualitative study involving 40 children in the United Kingdom (engaged and non-engaged in social action) suggest that a concrete, place-based understanding of social action (low-level construal) and intrinsic motives drives children to engage. An abstract and decontextualized understanding of social action (high-level construal) and concrete responsibilities such as caring for family (low-level construal) often hinders engagement. Contrary to expected trends, motivations to engage in social action are more associated with intrinsic benefits. Social identity needs act both as motivators (disproving negative views about children) and as barriers (maintaining a sense of “coolness”). Our study contributes to knowledge by suggesting that a place engagement approach, which embraces low-construal aspects and is “closer to home,” may help both motivating and overcoming barriers to child volunteering in economically disadvantaged communities.