Community engagement and implementation science: a hermeneutic review for implementation scientists

Area of Science:

• Implementation Science
• Community-Based Participatory Research
• Health Equity Research

Background:

• Community engagement is crucial but underutilized in implementation research.
• Implementation scientists require guidance on effective community engagement strategies.
• This review addresses gaps in understanding community engagement within implementation science.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore gaps in community engagement within implementation research.
• To examine various community engagement approaches for implementation researchers.
• To synthesize literature on community engagement in implementation science.

Main Methods:

• A hermeneutic review of literature on community engagement and implementation research.
• Searched PubMed for relevant studies, including those offering valuable insights.
• Analyzed 67 selected studies, examining engagement approaches, benefits, risks, and epistemic considerations.

Main Results:

• Identified 6 common community engagement approaches: crowdsourcing, participatory modeling, qualitative research, co-creation, community capacity strengthening, and community advisory boards.
• Each approach presents unique benefits, risks, and epistemic considerations.
• Tokenistic and minimal engagement are prevalent, despite the epistemic rationale for robust engagement and potential for transformative social change.

Conclusions:

• Community engagement holds significant potential to advance implementation research and improve health equity.
• Deeper researcher-community alliances through engagement can drive necessary social change.
• Increased attention to community engagement is needed to fully realize its benefits in implementation science.