What Does “Good” Community and Public Engagement Look Like? Developing Relationships With Community Members in Global Health Research

Authors

Gary Hickey, University of Southampton
Katie Porter, University of Southampton
Doreen Tembo, University of Southampton
Una Rennard
Martha Tholanah, University of Zimbabwe
Peter Beresford, University of East Anglia
David Chandler, The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance, UK
Moses Chimbari, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Tina Coldham, National Institute for Health Research Centre for Engagement and Dissemination, UK
Lisa Dikomitis, Canterbury Christ Church University
Biggy Dziro, African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI),
Peter O. Ekiikina, Foundation for Open Development, Uganda
Maria I. Khattak, Khyber Medical University
Cristian R. Montenegro, University of Exeter
Noni Mumba, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kenya
Rosemary Musesengwa, University of Oxford
Erica Nelson, University of Sussex
Clement Nhunzvi, University of Zimbabwe
Caroline Mae Ramirez, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, Ateneo de Manila UniversityFollow
Sophie Staniszewska, University of Warwick

Document Type

Response or Comment

Publication Date

1-27-2022

Abstract

Community and public engagement (CPE) is increasingly becoming a key component in global health research. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is one of the leading funders in the UK of global health research and requires a robust CPE element in the research it funds, along with CPE monitoring and evaluation. But what does “good” CPE look like? And what factors facilitate or inhibit good CPE? Addressing these questions would help ensure clarity of expectations of award holders, and inform effective monitoring frameworks and the development of guidance. The work reported upon here builds on existing guidance and is a first step in trying to identify the key components of what “good” CPE looks like, which can be used for all approaches to global health research and in a range of different settings and contexts. This article draws on data collected as part of an evaluation of CPE by 53 NIHR-funded award holders to provide insights on CPE practice in global health research. This data was then debated, developed and refined by a group of researchers, CPE specialists and public contributors to explore what “good” CPE looks like, and the barriers and facilitators to good CPE. A key finding was the importance, for some research, of investing in and developing long term relationships with communities, perhaps beyond the life cycle of a project; this was regarded as crucial to the development of trust, addressing power differentials and ensuring the legacy of the research was of benefit to the community.

Recommended Citation

Hickey, G., Porter, K., Tembo, D., Rennard, U., Tholanah, M., Beresford, P., Chandler, D., Chimbari, M., Coldham, T., Dikomitis, L., Dziro, B., Ekiikina, P. O., Khattak, M. I., Montenegro, C. R., Mumba, N., Musesengwa, R., Nelson, E., Nhunzvi, C., Ramirez, C. M., & Staniszewska, S. (2022). What does “good” community and public engagement look like? Developing relationships with community members in global health research. Frontiers in Public Health, 9. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2021.776940