Research Article

Searching for the Impact of Participation in Health and Health Research: Challenges and Methods

Table 2

Questions for reviews of the impact of participation.

Impact questions

(i) Did sharing of local experiential knowledge and culture, norms and practices instigate a change in the design or conduct of the intervention or research project?
(ii) Did participation improve the lives of those involved in the design, conduct, analysis, evaluation and/or dissemination of the research?
(iii) Did participation change historical relationships, group dynamics and traditional hierarchies or lead to more equitable partnerships and collaborations?
(iv) Did participation lead to the formation of new or expanded partnerships, collaborations or coalitions?
(v) Did participation create transformative learning, e.g., generation of new knowledge, evidence or theory, as a result of learning together?
(vi) Did participation increase capacity on individual and/or collective levels to make decisions about lifestyle, environment, health and wellbeing?
(vii) Did participation promote a social action process across individuals, organizations, and communities to transform life conditions for greater health and equity?
(viii) Did participation have structural impacts, where changes occurred in traditional structures, practices, cultures, power relations, and policies?
(ix) Did participation lead to improved health and wellbeing, reduced disparities, and increased social justice?

If there is adequate information, then the impact question would be included in the review and relevant data from papers would be used to answer it.