Community-engaged Research Partnerships as Healing Spaces for Health Professionals and Researchers

Area of Science:

• Community-based participatory research
• Health equity
• Qualitative research methods

Background:

• Community-engaged partnerships often focus on addressing health inequities.
• The role of these partnerships as healing spaces for researchers and health professionals is underexplored.
• Health professionals and researchers share socio-political contexts with marginalized populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of community-engaged partnerships to serve as healing spaces for health professionals and researchers.
• To identify characteristics of partnerships that foster healing.
• To understand the link between researcher/professional healing and addressing systemic health inequities.

Main Methods:

• A 15-month participatory ethnography was conducted.
• Data collection included focus groups and interviews.
• Analysis involved deductive and inductive coding of ethnographic notes and transcripts.

Main Results:

• Key characteristics of healing spaces included radical welcome, vulnerability, valuing the whole person, acknowledging potential harm, and centering lived experience expertise.
• These practices contribute to a supportive environment within partnerships.
• Healing within the research team is crucial for driving systemic change.

Conclusions:

• Community-engaged partnerships can be transformative healing spaces for researchers and health professionals.
• Prioritizing the well-being of those involved in health equity work is vital for sustainable and effective interventions.
• The healing of researchers and health professionals is integral to dismantling systemic barriers and improving population health.