[What is participatory epidemiology? A definition]. / Was ist partizipative Epidemiologie? Eine Begriffserklärung.

Participatory epidemiology is a concept that promotes the active involvement and cooperation of researchers and researched populations. The collaboration may relate to individual sections or to the entire course of an epidemiologic study. Participatory epidemiology comprises the following aspects: a joint definition of research objectives and research questions, the cooperative definition of the population groups under study and their health-related contexts, the selection or development of appropriate survey instruments, and dialogical forms of interpreting the results. Participatory epidemiology aims to create knowledge with practical relevance to all stakeholders.

Participatory epidemiology: the contribution of participatory research to epidemiology.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiology has contributed in many ways to identifying various risk factors for disease and to promoting population health. However, there is a continuing debate about the ability of epidemiology not only to describe, but also to provide results which can be better translated into public health practice. It has been proposed that participatory research approaches be applied to epidemiology as a way to bridge this gap between description and action. A systematic account of what constitutes participatory epidemiology practice has, however, been lacking. METHODS: A scoping review was carried out focused on the question of what constitutes participatory approaches to epidemiology for the purpose of demonstrating their potential for advancing epidemiologic research. Relevant databases were searched, including both the published and non-published (grey) literature. The 102 identified sources were analyzed in terms of comparing common epidemiologic approaches to participatory counterparts regarding central aspects of the research process. Exemplary studies applying participatory approaches were examined more closely. RESULTS: A highly diverse, interdisciplinary body of literature was synthesized, resulting in a framework comprised of seven aspects of the research process: research goal, research question, population, context, data synthesis, research management, and dissemination of findings. The framework specifies how participatory approaches not only differ from, but also how they can enhance common approaches in epidemiology. Finally, recommendations for the further development of participatory approaches are given. These include: enhancing data collection, data analysis, and data validation; advancing capacity building for research at the local level; and developing data synthesis. CONCLUSION: The proposed framework provides a basis for systematically developing the emergent science of participatory epidemiology.

Impact and Lessons Learned from a National Consortium for Participatory Health Research: PartKommPlus-German Research Consortium for Healthy Communities (2015-2018).

Integrated strategies of health promotion at the municipal level are receiving particular attention in public health policy and practice in Germany. These strategies are intended to provide a coordinated approach to health promotion during the entire lifespan, with a particular focus on vulnerable communities. They are also intended to be participatory in both their design and implementation, involving all sectors of the social welfare, educational and healthcare systems, civil society, and the general public. PartKommPlus-German Research Consortium for Healthy Communities is examining such strategies using participatory forms of research. The goal is to determine how participation can best be planned and implemented and what effects this participation has. In this article the work of PartKommPlus from the first funding phase (2015-2018) will be described with particular attention to the lessons learned and the forms of impact which are being considered as part of the participatory research process.