What Does "Good" Community and Public Engagement Look Like? Developing Relationships With Community Members in Global...

Area of Science:

• Global Health Research
• Community and Public Engagement (CPE)

Background:

• Community and Public Engagement (CPE) is a critical component of global health research.
• The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) mandates robust CPE in funded research, including monitoring and evaluation.
• Defining "good" CPE and identifying facilitators/barriers are essential for clarity and effective guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key components of "good" community and public engagement (CPE) in global health research.
• To explore factors that facilitate or inhibit effective CPE across diverse settings.
• To inform NIHR award holders, monitoring frameworks, and guidance development.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from an evaluation of CPE involving 53 NIHR-funded global health research award holders.
• Expert deliberation, development, and refinement of findings by researchers, CPE specialists, and public contributors.
• Exploration of "good" CPE characteristics, barriers, and facilitators.

Main Results:

• "Good" CPE involves developing long-term relationships with communities, potentially extending beyond project lifecycles.
• Investing in relationships is crucial for building trust and addressing power differentials.
• Sustained engagement ensures research benefits the community and leaves a lasting legacy.

Conclusions:

• Long-term investment in community relationships is a cornerstone of effective CPE in global health research.
• Addressing power dynamics and fostering trust are key outcomes of sustained engagement.
• This work provides foundational insights for defining and implementing high-quality CPE in global health research.