Engaging practitioners in developing a guide for citizen participation in community health promotion

Abstract Background Community health promotion aims to improve the living conditions in municipalities, cities, or regions to support health maintenance or promotion. Participation is a fundamental element in health promotion, as it enables community members to engage in decision-making, program development, and tailored health initiatives. This project focused on crafting a practical guide for citizen participation in community health promotion, involving experts and future users. Methods We conducted a literature review to identify existing guidelines and materials pertinent to community health promotion, with a focus on practical guidance for municipal practitioners. To delve deeper into the topic, we conducted interviews with 6 experts in the field of participation and community health promotion as well as with 6 practitioners working in “healthy municipalities” in Lower Austria. The guide was developed collaboratively, with two workshops being held to gather input on the draft concept of the guide and to prioritize topics. Moreover, experts and practitioners were involved to provide feedback on the drafted guidance document. Results Discrepancies emerged between theoretical concepts and real-life implementation of community participation. While the literature delineates up to 12 participation levels, practitioners identified three: contributing ideas, advising and co-deciding, and actively participating in planning and implementation. Informing the target group was conceptualized as a preliminary stage and basic requirement for citizen participation. Above all, practitioners sought low-key suggestions and short descriptions of methods that they could use directly in their everyday context. Conclusions Involving practitioners and potential users enhanced the accessibility and utility of the guide. Their input ensured that the guide remained practical, relevant and informative without excessive academic or theoretical abstraction. Key messages • Involving health promotion practitioners helped shaping the practical guide in a way to be most useful for the intended audience. • Experts and practitioners have different views regarding the theoretical distinctions of levels of participation in community health promotion.