Principles of Community Engagement with Social Media

Theoretical Background and research questions/hypothesis: Based on the recommendations of the "CTSA Community Engagement Key Function Committee Task Force on the Principles of Community Engagement (Second Edition)" we now gather and look for ways in which to further apply the lessons learned and best practices of community engagement. The utilization of social media is proving to be inclusive and effective in reaching out to historically disenfranchised communities. Individuals with disabilities are able to both receive and participate in the exchange of ideas with health care entities to educate, engage, and advocate individuals to develop progressive partnerships with entities that have previously not validated the contributions on these groups. Cultural and ethnic communities are also more opt to engage in collaborative practices when there is both recognition and inclusion of people's language, traditions, and beliefs. Gender disparities in delivery models are now more easily corrected by a collective peer review model, where individuals are able to utilize those schemas that they feel is inclusive of their current state in life. With various communication methods in development, what can be a culturally engaging model that can best encompass larger audience which yields higher rates of successful outcomes?

Methods and Results (informing the conceptual analysis): Barrowing from first nation's narrative approach to communication, we present a communication model that defines and applies our relationship to the individual, person, and communities as dialectic models to help integrate behavioral and attitudinal principals which facilitate inclusion, participation, and support from historically disenfranchise groups.

Conclusions: By utilizing an initial 3 sphere schema, we will see how the interconnectedness of the person, family, and community can help to delivered desired health messages by moving from individualistic perspectives to collectivistic perspective, hence providing more message adaptation, adherence, and dissemination.

Implications for research and/or practice: The applications of this research can aid in the development of better communications/practices tools to better connect individuals, families, and communities to health agencies and the exchanged products and services.