Effects of citizen involvement and participation in knowledge processes of integrated municipal health promotion: a systematic scoping review

Background Participation and its preliminary stages are recognized requirements in various fields of public health. By means of a scoping review, the impact of participation and its preliminary stages of residents in knowledge-generating processes in integrated municipal health promotion are systematically investigated and presented. Methods The scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA framework and extended by systematic manual research. An analysis grid was developed based on the impact model of community-based participatory research and the PHINEO impact model. Results In total, 30 publications from six subprojects of research alliances (also publications across research consortia) and six independent projects were analysed. Impact was mostly shown regarding positive changes in awareness and skills for the residents and stakeholder that were directly involved. To a smaller extent, impact was also reported for residents and stakeholders that did not participate in the projects. Changes in conditions and life circumstance for residents resulted from changes in the awareness and actions of the stakeholders involved in the projects. Discussion The impact of participation and its preliminary stages of residents in knowledge-generating processes of integrated municipal health promotion is broad and exceeds the target group of the (sub)project. At the same time, impact going beyond the directly involved residents or stakeholders is rarely described. Adequate funding and resources are necessary to systematically facilitate, evaluate and disseminate participatory knowledge-generating processes.