[Attend, consult, involve: do we need to redefine the concept of community engagement?]

Abstract

Objective: To describe how a sample of people working in community health promotion projects perceive and implement community engagement approaches.

Method: Mixed qualitative-quantitative study. Data was collected through: semi-structured interviews with 10 people representing the projects, and workshops in which 53 people participated and responded to a questionnaire prepared ad hoc to identify levels of community engagement. Descriptive statistical analysis of the questionnaires and framework analysis of the interviews, observations and workshops recordings.

Results: Although the projects are described as highly participatory, community engagement appeared mainly in the form of attending events, with few examples of consultation or community involvement.

Conclusions: This difference may be due to the lack of a culture of participation, both in individuals and institutions, and lack of training in community engagement. It is proposed to change the language from participation-attendance to using expressions such as consulting or involving people.

Keywords: Community health planning; Community health services; Community participation; Estudio de evaluación; Evaluation study; Health promotion; Participación de la comunidad; Planificación en salud comunitaria; Promoción de la salud; Servicios de salud comunitaria.