Definitions
Healthy Communities Movement (HCM)
An initiative to improve the health of communities at local level, fostering the involvement of government authorities and the active participation of the community. HCM seeks to build and strengthen multi-sectoral partnerships in order to improve the social health conditions in the spaces where people live. It advocates for the formulation of healthy public policy and seeks to maintain healthy environments and promote healthy lifestyles. For more information, please visit the Pan American Health Organization website.
Health-promoting university/healthy campus movement
A spinoff from the Healthy Communities Movement (HCM). Related theory and research are explicating the emerging role and function of the health-promoting campus and the power and responsibility of universities and colleges to act as supportive environments for health. Campuses are viewed as having “setting power,” similar to other locations where people spend considerable time studying, working, playing, and living.
The health-promoting campus movement provides opportunities for students to collaborate with others in building knowledge and skills that help all members of the campus community manage their own health and contribute to the health of others and the environment.
Participatory action research (PAR)
A collaborative approach to research that equitably involves all partners in the research process and recognizes the unique strengths that each brings. PAR begins with a research topic of importance to the community with the aim of combining knowledge and action for social change to improve community health and eliminate health disparities.
PAR has three interconnected goals: research, action, and education. These are combined as a process rather than approached as distinct methods. Principles of PAR include: ethical review, process orientation, community relevance, social action outcomes, joint data ownership, varied methods welcoming traditional/visual/qualitative methodologies, capacity building, and community initiation.
BREB
Behavioural Research Ethics Board.
Last reviewed 
8/15/2008 11:07:41 AM
