Impact of a Community-University Partnership on the Quality of Life in a Local Community: A Validated Survey

The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a self-reported instrument exploring the perceived potential contribution and impact of a community-university partnership (CUP) on the local community's quality of life.

A 13-item questionnaire was developed and administered to a convenience sample of 65 residents of the municipality of Egaleo, a metropolitan area of Athens, Greece, where the main campus of the University of West Attica is located. The questionnaire was self-administered and filled in at two different time points by the same participants. The 13 items of the questionnaire, pertaining to health promotion and wellness, research, upgrading of services, economic development, infrastructures, physical activity, cleaning services, green sector, social protection, kindergarten/nursery services, education, cultural sector, and technical works, were stated in the form of a three-point Likert scale. Factor analysis was performed, and the underlying factors' reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity as well as the test-retest reliability were assessed.

The mean age of participants was 46 years; 70.8% were females. All items of the questionnaire were retained in the factor analysis; the latter revealed the existence of two underlying factors, interpreted as "overall, comprehensive impact of the CUP" and "domain-specific contributions of the CUP." High reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.860 and 0.880 for the two factors, respectively) and convergent and discriminant validity were documented; the test-retest reliability indicated a stable tool for both factors (Spearman's rho = 0.85 and 0.83, respectively, p < 0.001).

The instrument can be used in the future; surveys are expected to provide further, valuable insight on several aspects of the CUP.