Grupo de mulheres: o desenvolvimento de habilidades de facilitação e a geração de uma dinâmica de grupo promotora de saúde / Women's support group: the development of facilitation skills and the generation of a health-promoting group dynamic / Grupo de mujeres: el desarrollo de habilidades de facilitación y la generación de una dinámica grupal promotora de salud

Introdução: A realização de grupos é uma das possibilidades de atuação das equipes da Atenção Primária à Saúde. Esse tipo de intervenção possibilita o desenvolvimento de ações de cuidado que extrapolam as consultas individuais, propiciando educação em saúde, integração, troca de experiências e ampliação da rede de apoio. Ainda que não tenham necessariamente o propósito de serem terapêuticos em termos de saúde mental, apresentam-se como espaços de promoção de saúde e prevenção de agravos. O trabalho com grupos é capaz de gerar aprimoramento para todas as pessoas envolvidas ­ usuários e profissionais ­ na medida em que possibilita colocar em evidência os saberes da comunidade, abrindo a possibilidade de que as intervenções em saúde sejam criadas em coletivo. Objetivo: Analisar o processo de desenvolvimento da habilidade de facilitação de grupos e os impactos das habilidades adquiridas na sua dinâmica, bem como na sua efetividade como ferramenta de produção de saúde, considerando as habilidades e competências da Medicina de Família e Comunidade. Métodos: Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa desenvolvida na UBS Santa Cecília. Os encontros aconteceram semanalmente pelo período de uma hora durante seis meses. A ferramenta utilizada para acompanhamento do desenvolvimento da habilidade de facilitação se deu pela observação estruturada, baseada em cinco competências básicas para facilitação de grupos. A dinâmica estabelecida consistiu na determinação de uma profissional facilitadora e outra observadora, que registrou as intervenções realizadas, sendo esses papéis invertidos a cada encontro. Quinzenalmente os dados eram analisados, gerando reflexões e sugestões para melhoria das intervenções. Resultados: Cada competência descrita na ferramenta utilizada teve como resultado o desenvolvimento de habilidades primordiais para o funcionamento do grupo. Um dos maiores indicadores do êxito em alcançar as habilidades desejadas ocorreu pela observação de intervenções cada vez menos necessárias, tomando as participantes os papéis de protagonistas e responsáveis pelo desenvolvimento do grupo, questionando, produzindo e obtendo saúde. Conclusões: A utilização de um instrumento de observação e reflexão das competências do agente atuante como facilitador de um grupo permitiu que a dinâmica se estabelecesse de forma fluida com rápido entendimento das participantes sobre seus papéis no contexto geral do grupo. Observou-se também que a relação estabelecida entre elas resultou na formação de rede de apoio, melhoria do autocuidado e conhecimento, informação em saúde e apoio social às envolvidas.

Introduction: Running support groups is one of the actions of Primary Health Care teams. This type of intervention enables the development of actions that go beyond individual consultations as the only space of care, providing health education, integration, exchange of experiences, and an enlargement in the support network. Although these groups do not necessarily have the purpose of being therapeutic in terms of mental health, they are presented as spaces for building health promotion and disease prevention. The alternative of groups as care practice generates improvement for all involved individuals ­ users and professionals ­ as it makes it possible to highlight the community's knowledge, opening the possibility that health interventions are created collectively. Objective: To analyze the process of ability development in regards to the facilitation of support groups and the impacts of the acquired skills on its dynamics, as well as on its effectiveness as a health production tool, considering the skills and competencies in Family and Community Medicine. Methods: Qualitative study developed at Santa Cecilia BHU. The meetings took place for one hour weekly over a six months period and the tool used to monitor the development of the facilitation skill was the instrument "Structured Observation", based on five basic skills for facilitating groups. The dynamics consisted of the determination of a professional facilitator and an observer, who recorded the interventions that were carried out, with these roles being reversed at each meeting. The data were analyzed bi-weekly, with reflections and suggestions for improving interventions. Results: Each competence described in the tool resulted in the development of essential skills for the functioning of the group. One of the major indicators of the achievement of the desired skills occurred by observing interventions that were less and less necessary, with participants taking on the roles of protagonists and becoming responsible for the development of the group, questioning, producing, and acquiring health. Conclusions: The use of an instrument for observing and reflecting on the skills of the agent acting as a group facilitator allows the dynamics to be fluidly established, with a quick understanding of the participants about their roles in the general context of the group. It was also observed that the relationship established between them resulted in the formation of a support network, improvement of self-care and knowledge, health information and social support for those involved.

Introducción: La realización de grupos es una de las acciones de los equipos de la Atención Primaria a la Salud. Este tipo de intervención hace posible el desarrollo de acciones que extrapolan las consultas individuales como único espacio de cuidado, ofreciendo educación en salud, integración, intercambio de experiencias y ampliación de la red de apoyo. Aunque estos grupos no tengan necesariamente el propósito de ser terapéutico en términos de salud mental, se presentan como sitios de construcción de promoción de salud y prevención de agravios. La alternativa de los grupos como una práctica asistencial crea una mejora para todas las personas involucradas ­ usuarios y profesionales ­ ya que habilita colocar en evidencia los saberes de la comunidad, abriendo la posibilidad de que las intervenciones en salud sean creadas en colectivo. Objetivo: Analizar el proceso de desarrollo de la habilidad de facilitación de grupos y los impactos de las habilidades adquiridas en la dinámica de este, así como en la efectividad como herramienta de producción de salud, considerando las habilidades y competencias de la Medicina de Familia y Comunidad. Métodos: Se trata de estudio cualitativo llevado a cabo en la UBS Santa Cecília. Los encuentros ocurrieron semanalmente durante una hora por seis meses y la herramienta utilizada para seguimiento del desarrollo de la habilidad de facilitación fue el instrumento Observación Estructurada, basado en cinco competencias básicas para facilitación de grupos. La dinámica establecida consistió en la determinación de una profesional facilitadora y otra observadora, que registró las intervenciones realizadas, siendo esos papeles cambiados a cada encuentro. A cada quince días los datos eran analizados, haciendo reflexiones y sugestiones para mejorar las intervenciones. Resultados: Cada competencia descrita en la herramienta utilizada tuvo como resultado el desarrollo de habilidades primordiales para el funcionamiento del grupo. Uno de los grandes indicadores del éxito en alcanzar las habilidades deseadas ocurrió por la observación de intervenciones cada vez menos necesarias, tomando las participantes los papeles de protagonistas y responsables por el desarrollo del grupo, cuestionando, produciendo y obteniendo salud. Conclusiones: La utilización de un instrumento de observación y reflexión de las competencias del agente actuante como facilitador de un grupo permiten que la dinámica se establezca de forma fluida con rápido entendimiento de las participantes sobre sus papeles en el contexto general del grupo. Se pudo observar también que la relación establecida entre ellas resultó en la formación de red de apoyo, mejora del autocuidado y conocimiento, información en salud y apoyo social a las involucradas.

Role of community engagement in advancing vaccine equity.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing health disparities among historically and currently underserved, underresourced, and marginalized communities worldwide. These communities faced disproportionate COVID-19 morbidity and mortality and were generally less likely to receive a COVID-19 vaccine once it became widely available to the public. Community engagement is an approach that can help bridge these inequities. This community case study adapted and implemented an existing community engagement framework to tailor a statewide vaccine equity effort that addresses community-specific priorities during a public health emergency. The adapted framework includes the following key phases: (1) creating an environment for community engagement; (2) making the work relevant; (3) narrowing the focus; (4) planning and conducting the work; and (5) evaluating the work. All of these supported the successful establishment of a statewide collaboration that consisted of various partners from various sectors who shared a collective commitment to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence and address barriers to vaccination among the diverse communities in Nevada. Ultimately, a community engagement framework can provide a roadmap to navigate the dynamic and multifaceted nature of equity-related work by paving the way for meaningful interventions to mitigate health disparities.

The Recent 2023 Earthquake in Nepal: A Global Health Perspective.

As a seismic hotspot, Nepal has endured many catastrophic earthquakes, including the 2023 Jajarkot quake. These quakes worsen the existing fragilities, resulting in difficulties in accessing healthcare, outbreaks of infectious diseases, mental health problems, and nutritional shortfalls. The article examines the complex web of health consequences, such as infectious and non-infectious diseases and malnutrition, highlighting the need for a global health lens in tackling these issues. It also reveals the long-term health effects, such as mental health disorders and increased disease susceptibility, that emerge after the quake and the importance of enhancing coordination and communication, enforcing building codes, and assisting affected communities in response to the seismic hazards. The article identifies mitigation strategies, community involvement, and international cooperation as key elements in building resilience against future quakes. It discusses the role of climate change in seismic risks and the need for research, innovation, and adaptability in global health interventions, suggesting measures such as strengthening primary healthcare, preventing avoidable health problems through education, and improving supply chains. The article calls for a holistic approach to building resilient health systems, emphasizing community engagement, prevention, and preparedness to protect the health of vulnerable groups in seismic regions.

Rehabilitation Transition Program to Improve Community Participation Among Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Interventions are needed to support the long-term needs of stroke survivors when they transition from inpatient rehabilitation to home, where they face new home and community environmental barriers. Objective: To compare the efficacy of a novel, enhanced rehabilitation transition program with attentional control to improve community participation and activity of daily living (ADL) performance and to reduce environmental barriers in the home and community after stroke. Design, Setting, and Participants: This phase 2b, parallel randomized clinical trial assessed patients 50 years or older who had experienced an acute ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage, were independent in ADLs before stroke, and planned to be discharged home. Patients were assessed at an inpatient rehabilitation facility in St Louis, Missouri, and their homes from January 9, 2018, to December 20, 2023. Intervention: Community Participation Transition after Stroke (COMPASS), including home modifications and strategy training. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was community participation (Reintegration to Normal Living Index). Secondary outcomes were daily activity performance (Stroke Impact Scale ADL domain and the In-Home Occupational Performance Evaluation [I-HOPE] activity, performance, and satisfaction scores) and environmental barriers in the home (I-HOPE environmental barriers score). Results: A total of 185 participants (mean [SD] age, 66.3 [9.0] years; 105 [56.8%] male) were randomized (85 to the COMPASS group and 100 to the control group). The COMPASS and control participants experienced similar improvements in community participation by 12 months, with no significant group (mean difference, 0.3; 95% CI, -4.6 to 5.2; P = .91) or group × time interaction (between-group differences in changes over time, 1.3; 95% CI, -7.1 to 9.6; P = .76) effects. Improvements in I-HOPE performance and satisfaction scores were greater for COMPASS participants than control participants at 12 months (between-group differences in changes for performance: 0.39; 95% CI, 0.01-0.77; P = .046; satisfaction: 0.52; 95% CI, 0.08-0.96; P = .02). The COMPASS participants had greater improvements for I-HOPE environmental barriers than the control participants (P = .003 for interaction), with the largest differences at 6 months (between-group differences in changes: -15.3; 95% CI -24.4 to -6.2). Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial of stroke survivors, participants in both groups experienced improvements in community participation. COMPASS participants had greater improvements in self-rated performance and satisfaction with performing daily activities as well as a greater reduction in environmental barriers than control participants. COMPASS reduced environmental barriers and improved performance of daily activities for stroke survivors as they transitioned from inpatient rehabilitation to home. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03485820.

Development and psychometric validation of an age-friendly health system assessment tool in the Iranian context.

Evaluating health system interventions for elderly care necessitates a context-specific, credible and dependable instrument. This research was dedicated to creating and validating a tool to assess the health system's age-friendliness. The study unfolded in two pivotal stages: the generation of items utilizing a hybrid model and the psychometric appraisal of the tool, encompassing both validity and reliability assessments. From an initial pool of 522 items derived from a systematic scoping review and qualitative analysis, a concise assessment tool emerged, featuring 52 items across 6 domains: governance, information, resources, service delivery, community engagement and outcomes. The 52-item tool offers a straightforward, substantiated and robust means to gauge age-friendliness, pinpoint health system deficiencies and facilitate strategic planning on the basis of its insights.

Community voices in health literacy: a qualitative exploration into perceptions of a health literacy mediator.

Health literacy is a vital asset needed to empower individuals to take control of their health. An individual's health literacy is the ability to find, use and apply health information and services to manage their health. They interact with the health services and members of their community who can offer additional support. Creating the role of a health literacy mediator (HLM) may help to improve health literacy outcomes for all. For this role to be accepted by individuals within a community, the community itself should be involved in the development of the roles and associated responsibilities. The aim of this study was to engage with community members to acquire their perspectives on the potential of this role. Qualitative semi-structured online interviews were used to engage in discussions with local community members. This study implemented a constructivist epistemology with qualitative research design. Data were thematically analysed to identify evolving themes that were important to the HLM role. The analysis identified three main themes that need to be considered when adopting an HLM role: (i) health empowerment of individuals, organizations and communities, (ii) meeting the needs of the community and (iii) addressing the existing barriers in navigating and accessing the healthcare system. Those working in the health promotion space must adopt novel and innovative ways to improve HL on both a local and an international scale. This study concluded that for the role of a HLM to be accepted, it would need to encompass these attributes.

The Citizen as a Public Health Actor: Complaints as Public Engagement with Aedes Mosquito Control in Singapore, 1965-1985.

In 1986, the World Health Organization heralded Singapore as a model for the control of dengue fever, a viral disease spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Between 1965 and 1985, public health officials successfully employed educational campaigns and mandatory home inspections to convince citizens to guard against mosquito breeding at home. Although this story appears to recapitulate standard narratives of top-down progress in Singapore, this paper argues that the significant role of the public in public health has been overlooked. Citizens complained frequently, sometimes publicly, to public health authorities and often compelled direct responses from them. Through these complaints, citizens modified official anti-mosquito measures and expanded the reach of public health. Public health in Singapore thus appears not simply as the imposition of an autonomous state's vision onto a docile or even resistant citizenry but as a coevolution of the state and the public.

Examining Unusual Patterns of Cancer and Environmental Concerns: The Importance of Community Input and Engagement.

CONTEXT: In fiscal year 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) received an appropriation from Congress specifically to update guidelines for investigating community cancer concerns. This resulted in the DHHS directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to fulfill this responsibility. PROGRAM: The CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) provide guidance to state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) health departments and play important roles in supporting STLT programs in addressing community cancer concerns. IMPLEMENTATION: The updated guidelines offer enhancements addressing limitations and challenges regarding the process for investigating cancer clusters as expressed by STLT programs responsible for responding to inquiries and by communities impacted by unusual patterns of cancer. Additionally, the updated guidelines offer new tools and approaches associated with scientific advancements. Issues associated with improving communications and community engagement were a priority. Details in the updated guidelines provide suggestions for building and maintaining trust; provide resources via additional tools, templates, and methodology to facilitate sharing of information; provide suggestions for identifying agency and community points of contacts; and provide suggestions for establishing a community advisory committee. CONCLUSION: Enhancements to the previous guidelines were included to address advancements in statistical approaches and methods for understanding exposure pathways and also to respond to limitations described in the previous guidelines. Furthermore, these enhancements ensure communities have a voice in the process and offer methods to enhance transparency throughout the investigative process. Ultimately, the 2022 Guidelines are designed to ensure that community engagement, community input, and communication remains paramount to the process of assessing unusual patterns of cancer and environmental concerns.

Community engagement and local governance for health equity through trust: lessons from developing the CONNECT Initiative in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Community engagement and local governance are important components of health interventions aiming to empower local populations. Yet, there is limited evidence on how to effectively engage with communities and codevelop interventions, especially in Southeast Asian contexts. Despite rapid progress, the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) still has high maternal and child mortality, with essential service coverage showing significant disparities across socioeconomic strata. Long-standing challenges in community health were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and reinforced by poor trust between users and health providers. However, the pandemic also provided an opportunity to develop approaches for enhanced community engagement and local governance capacity to tackle health inequities. The Community Network Engagement for Essential Healthcare and COVID-19 Responses through Trust (CONNECT) Initiative, developed by the Lao PDR government, WHO and partners, has resulted in initial positive outcomes in community health such as increased vaccination uptake, facility births and trust in health providers. This case study describes the iterative, adaptive process by which the CONNECT Initiative was developed, and how the core components, key stakeholders, theory of change and evaluation framework evolved from grounded observations and hypotheses. Lessons learnt include (1) awareness of entry points and existing structures to strengthen local governance for health through mutually beneficial intersectoral collaboration; (2) building relationships and trust with an adaptive, grounds-up approach for sustainability and scalability. As a model which can be adapted to other settings, this case study provides evidence on how to engage with communities, strengthen local governance and codevelop interventions towards greater health equity.

A project co-created with the community to mitigate loneliness in midlife women.

This paper describes how a team of researchers, policy stakeholders and community members came together to co-create prevention-oriented and community-informed solutions to address loneliness in women-The Loneliness Project. Our aim is to encourage community partnerships and collective effort to address public health approaches to loneliness by developing a shared understanding of the issue from multiple perspectives and through the co-creation process, highlighting the key factors for co-creating a funding application for a community demonstration project.

Engagement of patients and the public in personalised prevention in Europe using genomic information: a scoping review.

Introduction: Personalised prevention using genomic information requires active involvement from patients and the public, who should be well-informed and empowered to make healthcare decisions that reflect their personal values. We aimed to map engagement practises, and assess the extent and types of engagement methods used in the field of personalised prevention of common chronic conditions using genomic information. Methods: A scoping review on selected literature (in Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, APA PsycINFO, and IBSS) from 2015 to 2023 was performed. Articles included described practises of patient and public engagement in personalised prevention and genomics conducted in Europe focusing on cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. Engagement was explored based on grouping practises across the domains of care, research, education, and governance. Results: A total of 23 articles describing 23 engagement practises were selected. Analysis revealed diverse engagement levels, the majority falling into the low to medium engagement category, and showing mainly unidirectional methods of engagement, especially consultation. Most engagement activities related to cancer, and none to neurodegenerative disorders. Most publications appeared in the care domain, followed by the research domain, a combination of research and care, and a combination of governance and education. Conclusion: These results suggest that most practises to engage patients and public in personalised prevention using genomic information appear to have lower levels of engagement. Elaborating on and implementing practises that engage and empower patients and the public at all levels of the engagement spectrum and for all chronic diseases is needed, fostering a more inclusive and participatory approach to personalised prevention.

Community engagement in mobile and hard-to-reach populations: a community-based intervention for malaria elimination in a tri-national region of the Guiana Shield.

Several countries of the Guiana Shield are aiming at the control and elimination of malaria in areas where Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) activities predominate, raising questions about how to strengthen community engagement to improve the effectiveness of health programs. The Curema project focuses its intervention on the mobile and hard-to-reach ASGM population, complementing the efforts of national programs in the Guiana Shield. The Curema intervention combines targeted drug administration for suspected Plasmodium vivax asymptomatic carriers, the Malakit distribution, and health education activities. The primary goals of this manuscript are to outline a pathway to foster community participation in the Curema project aimed at eliminating malaria. Thus, it presents a vision of the challenges that the AGSM community poses in terms of community participation for an asymptomatic problem; and highlights the community-based model and the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) components as foundations for participation. In addition, it also presents culturally sensitive IEC strategies designed through iterative and collaborative consultative processes and other bottom-up outreach activities. The community engagement approach facilitates adaptability and responsiveness in a complex, evolving context increasing the effectiveness of interventions.

Perspectives of patient and public partners on their involvement in research.

INTRODUCTION: Patient and public involvement (PPI) in research integrates patient and public perspectives to improve research relevance and quality. The experiences of PPI partners have revealed mixed findings in countries where PPI is well established, but accounts from areas less accustomed to PPI in research are limited. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, motivations, expectations and experiences of PPI representatives in such a setting. METHODS: This was a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews. Patient and public partners who had recently been engaged in a PPI collaboration to redesign the written patient material for a clinical study were interviewed. The interviews were analysed using inductive content analysis in which quotations were extracted, coded, categorised and interpreted into themes. RESULTS: Interviews indicated a lack of knowledge concerning PPI in research. Despite their motivation to collaborate, the PPI partners expressed anxiety and doubts about their abilities as laypeople. A sense of societal obligation to collaborate was noted. Groups-based, repetitive sessions fostered productivity, while challenges included off-topic discussions and skepticism. CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide valuable insights for shaping PPI processes and recruitment strategies in regions that are new to PPI. This highlights the need to describe the PPI concept when recruiting participants elaborately and to utilise repetitive group-based sessions in the design. FUNDING: Supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Chief Scientist Office, Scotland. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not relevant.

A Patient and Public Engagement Project to Inform Dementia Care in a UK Hospital Trust.

INTRODUCTION: The increasing prevalence of dementia in the United Kingdom presents significant challenges for healthcare, with projections estimating over a million affected individuals by 2025, costing the NHS £6.3 billion annually. Hospital admissions among dementia patients are common, occupying about 25% of UK hospital beds and leading to prolonged stays and diminished health outcomes. METHOD: This paper presents the opening stages, part of a larger project where Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) was employed to understand and navigate what it means for hospital care for a person living with dementia. To understand hospital care for dementia patients, focus groups were conducted through dementia cafés in Essex and Suffolk from February to July 2023 engaging patients, carers and family members. RESULTS: Recognised processes for reporting PPIE and thematic analysis were used and identified six themes and 21 subthemes regarding hospital care: individualised care, role of carers, basic care, interpersonal communication, information sharing and staffing. DISCUSSION: The results from the PPIE will be used to inform and work with stakeholders through the next phases of the project, which involves examining care processes in the hospital, identifying touchpoints and evaluating these areas. The project continues to be informed by stakeholders including people living with dementia, carers and staff. Additionally, the results may inform other service providers for care enhancements, processes and delivery. CONCLUSION: Moving forward, the study emphasises the importance of building collaborative relationships with stakeholders involved in dementia care. Additionally, it provides insights to focus areas that are fundamental for acute care organisations when delivering care to people living with dementia. By incorporating insights from PPIE, this project seeks to identify inequalities in dementia care services, improve hospital care for people living with dementia, fostering a more inclusive and supportive healthcare environment. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The purpose of the study was to explore the most important issues around hospital care for people with dementia, their carers and families. Persons living with dementia, carers and family members were involved in the study through community dementia cafés and recruited to take part in focus groups to discuss hospital care for patients with dementia. The design of questions and materials for the discussions was developed through consultation with the university department's service user lead and dementia specialist and reviewed by a service user member living with dementia. A pilot focus group was conducted with a group of carers. We worked with the dementia café managers to coordinate recruitment and a suitable environment to run the focus groups. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Building Relationships, Forming Collaborations: Lessons Learned From an Unconference Seeking to Cultivate Solutions in Healthcare.

INTRODUCTION: Calls for a 'major rethinking' of the delivery of healthcare services are echoed across Canada as the healthcare crisis continues. Proposed strategies to address the challenges of this crisis include: a transdisciplinary approach that is patient-focused and community-based; a representative team composed of patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, decision makers and policymakers; and authentic collaboration among stakeholder groups throughout the research cycle. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to enable community members to take on a leading role in building capacity and to provide a space for discourse among diverse groups while respecting community wisdom, values and priorities. METHODS: The Collaborative Health Research Institute of Southern Alberta (CHRISA) organized a participant-oriented Unconference event to address the factors contributing to the healthcare crisis in Alberta, Canada. An Unconference is a participant-oriented meeting where the attendees nominate the topics, agree on the agenda and lead the sessions. This article describes the Unconference programme and presents the findings from a thematic analysis of the discussion notes from breakout sessions, feedback from participants (i.e., lessons learned) and pragmatic recommendations for future Unconference events. RESULTS: Findings from sessions included the following: (1) identifying the 'wicked' problems, (2) the factors/causes contributing to each problem (i.e., contributors) and (3) potential multifaceted solutions or ideas to remedy the problem. Lessons learned from the postevent evaluation resulted in six recommendations for organizing future Unconferences. CONCLUSION: The CHRISA Unconference achieved its goals by providing a venue for attendees to connect, engage and network on topics of interest, explore new ways of addressing challenges in healthcare and serve as a foundation for future initiatives and collaborations in healthcare research and practice. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The Unconference was attended by community members who identify as patients, frontline workers, programme administrators and representatives of public organizations and agencies. Participants contributed to breakout session discussions, provided feedback on the Unconference and offered recommendations for future events. The co-authors are service users, people with lived experience or those work in the healthcare setting; they have been involved in data collection, analysis and interpretation, and contributed to this report.

Public Health Ambassadors: A Novel Participatory Community Health Awareness Program in Abu Dhabi.

Community-based intervention (CBI) programs promote lifestyle changes, modify risk factors, and substantially improve public health. Social mobilization and community involvement improve health outcomes, reduce health disparities, and improve access to care and services. Health intervention program evaluations are essential to provide evidence-based strategies that can enhance the design and implementation of successful health promotion programs. Interventions that enable the United Arab Emirates (UAE) community to change and modify unhealthy behaviors were the priority of the last decade and are the health authorities' objectives. The Department of Health Abu Dhabi launched a wellness program to enable the community to adopt healthy behaviors. The Public Health Ambassadors program is a community-based health intervention program under the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, inaugurated in 2019. This paper describes the Public Health Ambassadors CBI conducted in Abu Dhabi. The implementation science framework was used to develop the intervention. The Public Health Ambassadors is one of the UAE's earliest and most successful CBIs. The program can be used as a model to encourage more health promotion interventions in the country and the region. The role of the program was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Voluntary community participation and social responsibilities are essential competencies promoted by this program.

Effective community entry: reflections on community engagement in culturally sensitive research in southwestern Nigeria.

Effective community entry processes influence community participation and acceptance of public health interventions. Though there is a growing body of literature on the importance of community partnerships, there is a lack of pragmatic and practical documentation of the experiences involved in the community entry process as it relates to culturally sensitive topics such as child marriage which can help to support researchers working in this field. This article highlights key themes related to knowledge of the community, effective communication, cultural sensitivity, coproduction and giving feedback which help to build trust between the community members and the research team. Institutional representation, not managing expectations, and lack of clarity, along with personal opinions of community gatekeepers can create challenges for the fostering of trustworthy relationships with the community. These realities must be actively addressed right at the onset of the process between the research team and community stakeholders. Researchers can develop trust, form connections and engage different communities by working with local groups and leaders, using culturally appropriate methods, and addressing community concerns. Future projects working with communities on child marriage in Nigeria and other countries would benefit from the reflections presented in this paper.

E-participation in policy-making for health: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: For the general public, e-participation represents a potential solution to the challenges associated with in-person participation in health policy-making processes. By fostering democratic engagement, e-participation can enhance civic legitimacy and trust in public institutions. However, despite its importance, there is currently a gap in the literature regarding a comprehensive synthesis of studies on various aspects of e-participation in the health policy domain. These aspects include levels of participation, underlying mechanisms, barriers, facilitators, values and outcomes. To address this gap, our proposed scoping review aims to systematically investigate and classify the available literature related to e-participation in policy-making for health. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will employ the Population, Concept and Context framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley (2005). Our population of interest will consist of participants involved in policy-making for health, including both government organisers of e-participation and participating citizens (the governed). To identify relevant studies, we will systematically search databases such as CINAHL (EBSCO), Academic Search Premier (EBSCO), Social Services Abstracts (ProQuest), Scopus (Elsevier), EMBASE (Elsevier), The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Campbell Collaboration, JBI Evidence Synthesis and PubMed using a predefined search strategy. Two independent reviewers will conduct a three-tiered screening process for identified articles, with a third reviewer resolving any discrepancies. Data extraction will follow a predefined yet flexible form. The results will be summarised in a narrative format, presented either in tabular or diagrammatic form. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The National Institute of Health Research of the Islamic Republic of Iran's ethics committee has approved this review study. Our findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and targeted knowledge-sharing sessions with relevant stakeholders.