Community-engaged research (CEnR) is the process of working collaboratively with groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, special interests, or similar situations with respect to issues affecting their well-being. One of the most widely used forms of community-engaged research is community-based participatory research (CBPR),[1] though it also encompasses action research and participatory action research. Another form of community-engaged research is integrated knowledge translation (iKT),[2] defined as "an approach to doing research that applies the principles of knowledge translation to the entire research process". The iKT evolves around the concept of engaging[3] different levels of knowledge users (community members, organizations working in the community, and policy makers)[3][4] as equal partners in the research activities so that research outputs are more relevant to, and more likely to be useful to, the knowledge users.
History
editCommunity-engaged research arose in response to historical abuse of marginalized people by researchers, who failed to consider the needs of the community and potential benefits of the research. Types of CEnR include action research, community-based participatory research (CBPR), and participatory action research (PAR). The field of CEnR has grown rapidly since 2005.[5]
Process
editCommunity-engaged research is planned in partnership with the community that is the intended target of the research.[6][7] It requires the development of partnerships between researchers and the community, cooperation and negotiation between parties, collaboration, and a commitment to addressing local health concerns.[3][8] This can create additional steps not traditionally found in research projects, such as jointly creating a mission statement or a memorandum of understanding to establish terminology, timelines, and expectations. These planning steps typically occur before funding is secured for the research project so that a meaningful and trusting relationship is the platform for the research activities.[3] Community members may be skeptical of research conducted without compensation; researchers and the community can collaborate to define fair compensation for participation.[6] The researchers also can involve the community members in the research activities and ensuring community member capacity building needs.[4]
CEnR projects exist along a spectrum of the level of community involvement. In order from least- to most-involved, examples are investigator-driven research, community-placed research, community-based research, community-based participatory research, and community-driven research.[8]
Applying "Infinite Game" approach for community-engaged research
editGiven that community-engaged research requires a long-term collaborative approach, the concept of an "Infinite Game" offers a potentially valuable framework.[9] Its emphasis on sustained engagement, adaptability, and relationship-building aligns well with the core principles of community-engaged research. This approach could lead to more sustainable and impactful research outcomes, especially in complex community settings.[9]
Applying "Diffusion of Innovation" approach for community-engaged research
editUsing the "Diffusion of Innovation" approach in community engagement and research[10] can help researchers to enhance community member participation, gain acceptance, build trust, and achieve sustainable partnership. This approach also helps ensure that findings and innovations are widely accepted and have a lasting impact.[10]
Scope
editReviews of community-engaged research indicate that this type of research predominantly occurs in the US and the Americas. Europe is represented chiefly by studies in the United Kingdom, and some studies have been conducted in Australia as well. Few reviews of community-engaged research have included work done in Africa or Asia.[5]
References
edit- ^ Balls-Berry, J. E.; Acosta-Pérez, E. (2017). "The Use of Community Engaged Research Principles to Improve Health: Community Academic Partnerships for Research". Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal. 36 (2): 84–85. PMC 5582944. PMID 28622404.
- ^ Kitson, A., and M. Bisby. 2008. Speeding up the spread: putting KT research into practice and developing an integrated KT collaborative research agenda. Edmonton (AB): Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research.
- ^ a b c d Turin, Tanvir Chowdhury; Chowdhury, Nashit; Haque, Sarika; Rumana, Nahid; Rahman, Nafiza; Lasker, Mohammad A. A. (August 2021). "Meaningful and deep community engagement efforts for pragmatic research and beyond: engaging with an immigrant/racialised community on equitable access to care". BMJ Global Health. 6 (8): e006370. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006370. ISSN 2059-7908. PMC 8383879. PMID 34426405.
- ^ a b Turin, Tanvir Chowdhury; Chowdhury, Nashit; Haque, Sarika; Rumana, Nahid; Rahman, Nafiza; Lasker, Mohammad A. A. (December 2021). "Involving im/migrant community members for knowledge co-creation: the greater the desired involvement, the greater the need for capacity building". BMJ Global Health. 6 (12): e007602. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007602. ISSN 2059-7908. PMC 8718487. PMID 34969687.
- ^ a b Ortiz, Kasim; Nash, Jacob; Shea, Logan; Oetzel, John; Garoutte, Justin; Sanchez-Youngman, Shannon; Wallerstein, Nina (2020). "Partnerships, Processes, and Outcomes: A Health Equity–Focused Scoping Meta-Review of Community-Engaged Scholarship". Annual Review of Public Health. 41: 177–199. doi:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040119-094220. PMC 8095013. PMID 31922931.
- ^ a b Michener, Lloyd; Cook, Jennifer; Ahmed, Syed M.; Yonas, Michael A.; Coyne-Beasley, Tamera; Aguilar-Gaxiola, Sergio (2012). "Aligning the Goals of Community-Engaged Research: Why and How Academic Health Centers Can Successfully Engage With Communities to Improve Health". Academic Medicine. 87 (3): 285–291. doi:10.1097/ACM.0b013e3182441680. ISSN 1040-2446. PMC 3292771. PMID 22373619.
- ^ Turin TC, Chowdhury N, Haque S, Rumana N, Rahman N, Lasker M (August 2021). "Meaningful and deep community engagement efforts for pragmatic research and beyond: engaging with an immigrant/racialised community on equitable access to care". BMJ Global Health. 6 (8): e006370. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006370. PMC 8383879. PMID 34426405.
- ^ a b Hacker, Karen; Glover Taylor, J. (2011). Community-Engaged Research (CEnR) and the Institutional Review Board: Principles, Challenges, and Opportunities. The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center.
- ^ a b Turin TC, Kazi M, Rumana N, Lasker M, Chowdhury N (October 2023). "Conceptualizing community engagement as an infinite game implemented through finite games of 'research', 'community organizing', and 'knowledge mobilization'". Health Expect. 26 (5): 1799–1805. doi:10.1111/hex.13801. PMC 10485326. PMID 37350352.
- ^ a b Turin TC, Kazi M, Rumana N, Lasker M, Chowdhury N (August 2023). "Employing diffusion of innovation theory for 'not missing the mass' in community-engaged research". BMJ Open. 13 (8): e069680. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069680. PMC 10450088. PMID 37612113.