A scoping review of community participation in public health research and action during the COVID-19 pandemic: Exploring approaches on the continuum between utilitarianism and empowerment

Community participation played a crucial role in addressing health inequities during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in reaching marginalized populations and fostering resilience. Amid the wide variation of participatory approaches in community health—from information dissemination to co-decision-making—, there remains a lack of comprehensive analysis on their implementation, impact, and effectiveness. This scoping review synthesizes participatory approaches used during the pandemic, addressing three key gaps: (1) the depth and breadth of participation, (2) the types of communities engaged and the public health issues addressed, and (3) the impact of participation on community health.

Following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology, we systematically searched nine bibliographic databases, identifying 20,672 records. After removing duplicates and screening articles based on predefined inclusion criteria, we included 127 studies. Our analysis included mapping participation depth using Arnstein's ladder, categorizing motivations as utilitarian or emancipatory, and identifying the types of communities engaged and the community health issues addressed. We also examined community health outcomes and developed a conceptual heuristic framework to better characterize participatory approaches.

Based on our findings, we propose eight key recommendations for improving the implementation and reporting of participatory approaches in community health. These include providing clear definitions of community and community health, ensuring transparency in participation levels and phases, elaborating on participatory methods, avoiding (re)stigmatization, and promoting community-driven research and action. By enhancing participatory practice and evaluation, these recommendations can support more equitable, effective, and sustainable community health interventions in pandemic contexts and beyond.