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Community Engagement in Health Promotion: Results from a Realist Multiple Case Study.
- Source :
- Health & Social Care in the Community; 4/29/2024, Vol. 2024, p1-14, 14p
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Community engagement (CE) has long been endorsed by policy makers and health practitioners. However, uncertainties remain about the workings and outcomes of CE. This study aims to provide in-depth insights into them. In a multiple case study, we investigated three participatory health promotion projects for families in vulnerable situations in the Netherlands. We adopted a realist approach combined with a theory of change (ToC) model. We then analysed the qualitative data for context–mechanism–outcome (CMO) configurations to refine this ToC. Results show that CE can strengthen social networks, empower families, and increase perceived health. However, specific contexts in combination with CE project approaches may or may not trigger positive responses. Participants may feel that they matter when asked to actively contribute to a project, which in turn can enhance their self-confidence. In another context, we found that families were overwhelmed by the responsibilities given to them in the project, leading to feelings of stress and withdrawal from the project. We present a list of CMO configurations and refine the ToC accordingly. Our main conclusion is that flexibility is key when CE is implemented in health promotion. Also, our findings question physical health outcomes as a realistic ambition for CE projects with groups in vulnerable situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- COMMUNITY support
SELF-efficacy
HEALTH status indicators
BEHAVIOR modification
SOCIAL determinants of health
RESEARCH funding
AT-risk people
INTERVIEWING
FAMILIES
CONFIDENCE
JUDGMENT sampling
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
THEMATIC analysis
MOTIVATION (Psychology)
SOCIAL networks
PSYCHOLOGICAL stress
MATHEMATICAL models
CONCEPTUAL structures
HEALTH behavior
HEALTH promotion
THEORY
CASE studies
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09660410
- Volume :
- 2024
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Health & Social Care in the Community
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 177043188
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/2448483