An evidence-based model to promote community engagement in health intervention research: the Quiet 4 Healthy Farm experience

TL;DR

This paper presents a model for community engagement in health research, using a farm-based example to show how involving communities can improve health outcomes.

Contribution

The paper introduces adaptable community engagement practices for health intervention research, promoting empowerment and long-term improvements.

Findings

Community engagement practices are adaptable across different studies and health issues.

Active community participation leads to empowered communities and better health outcomes.

The model has potential to enhance future community-based health behavior studies.

Abstract

Community engagement involves working collaboratively with groups of people on issues affecting their well-being. The process is central to public health. Although the concept of community engagement is based on the assumption that active participation by community residents in the process of improving health and social outcomes will lead to an empowered community, and long-term health and social improvements, there is little research on how to achieve community engagement. This article describes a variety of the author’s practices in community engagement in the context of community-based health promotion intervention research. The practices highlighted in this perspective are highly adaptable to other studies, participants, settings, and health issues, and have potential for augmenting the community engagement and success of future community-based health behavior studies, and consequently contribute to the public health.

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