[What is participatory epidemiology? A definition]

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health Research

Background:

• Traditional epidemiology often involves researchers working separately from the populations they study.
• Participatory epidemiology emphasizes collaboration between researchers and communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define and elaborate on the concept of participatory epidemiology.
• To highlight the collaborative nature and key components of this research approach.

Main Methods:

• Defining research objectives and questions jointly.
• Cooperatively defining study populations and their health contexts.
• Selecting or developing appropriate survey instruments.
• Utilizing dialogical approaches for result interpretation.

Main Results:

• Participatory epidemiology fosters active involvement of researched populations.
• Collaboration can span the entire epidemiologic study process.
• Key aspects include shared objective setting, population definition, instrument selection, and result interpretation.

Conclusions:

• Participatory epidemiology aims to generate knowledge with practical relevance for all stakeholders.
• This collaborative model enhances the applicability and impact of epidemiological research.