The CEKHP method as novel research to capitalize experiential knowledge in health promotion: A method paper

In health promotion, traditional evidence-based approaches have shown limitations in capturing the complexity of real-world interventions and in integrating the experiential knowledge of field actors. The CEKHP (Capitalize, collect, and circulate Experiential Knowledge in Health Promotion) method was developed in France as a response to this gap, offering a structured process for documenting and disseminating experiential knowledge. This method paper aims to describe the CEKHP methodology and demonstrate its added value for research and practice in health promotion, using a hospital-based pediatric oral health education program as a case study. The CEKHP method involves a five-step process (framing, data collection, analysis, validation, dissemination) facilitated by a trained third party in collaboration with project leaders. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, then analyzed thematically based on a guiding capitalization question. The process produced a structured "capitalization sheet" co-validated by stakeholders. The method captured valuable contextual, procedural, and strategic elements of the program, highlighting barriers (e.g., perception of educational actions as secondary) and facilitators (e.g., institutional support, multidisciplinary collaboration). It enabled a reflexive analysis of the implementation and provided actionable insights for adaptation and transferability to other hospital settings. The CEKHP method bridges a critical gap in health promotion by formalizing the collection of tacit knowledge from practitioners. It contributes to a broader understanding of intervention applicability, supports reflective practice, and enhances the knowledge base beyond conventional evidence. As such, it is a promising tool to complement evidence-based strategies with practice-informed insights.