Engaging community members in health-related research and interventions

The landscape of public health intervention planning and conducting clinical research has changed a lot in the 21st century with profound alterations occurring since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the one fundamental, often challenging, but undermined aspect is the involvement of the general public in medical research or community health interventions. This editorial underscores the paramount significance of involving community members in clinical research or public health interventions to enhance their relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability. We introduce a framework based on six essential domains, referred to as the "Six Cs" (i.e. Constituents & Connections; Communication & Cultivation of Trust; Cultural Competency & Conduct Norms; Context, Capacity & Constraints; Creation of Procedures & Protocols; and Commitment to Common Goals). For medical research and community health interventions, this framework emphasizes the need for collaborative, transparent, and culturally sensitive methodologies that can enhance the general public’s engagement. By nurturing authentic partnerships and utilizing community expertise, this framework for community-engaged health research seeks to improve public participation, foster trust, ensure ethical practices, and ultimately realize significant health outcomes for the public and scientific community.