JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

This four-year research focuses on six social community enterprises (SCE) that operate in five neighborhoods in a Dutch city. Residents of these neighborhoods face problems such as poor average levels of physical and mental health, high unemployment rates and weak social cohesion. SCEs offer residents social, cultural, and work-related activities, and are therefore believed to help these persons to develop themselves and to strengthen the social ties in the community. Because of a lack of empirical evidence, however, it is unclear whether and how SCEs benefit the health and well-being of participants. This paper outlines a protocol for an evaluation study on the impact of SCEs, aiming to determine (1) to what extent SCEs affect health and well-being of participating residents, (2) what underlying processes and mechanisms can explain such impact, and (3) what assets are available to SCEs and how SCEs can successfully mobilize these assets.

Objective:

The study outlined in this protocol aims to contribute knowledge on the potential of social community enterprises to impact health and well-being and to reduce health inequalities by answering the following research questions: 1. What is the impact of SCEs on health outcomes at individual and community levels? 2. What underlying processes and mechanisms can explain the possible health impact of SCEs? 3. What assets are available to SCEs through their organization and their context, and how can SCEs successfully mobilize these assets?

Methods:

A mixed-methods multiple-case study design including repeated cross-sectional measurements will be conducted. Six SCEs form the cases. First, the impact of SCEs is measured on the individual and community level, using questionnaires and in-depth interviews that are conducted with participants. Second, the research focuses on the underlying processes and mechanisms, and the organizational and socio-political factors that influence the success or failure of these enterprises in affecting the health and well-being of residents. At this organizational level, in-depth interviews are carried out with SCE initiators and stakeholders, such as municipal district managers. Finally, structurally documented observations are made on the organizational and socio-political context of the SCEs.

Results:

Not applicable.

Conclusions:

By following six initiatives during four years and using a mixed-methods design this research aims to study the impact of the different approaches of these SCEs on health and well-being. Data collection is dependent on the cooperation of many stakeholders and the possible down-sizing, collapse or change of approach of SCEs present a clear risk. Despite these challenges, this study entails a unique opportunity to generate new empirical evidence on the impact of SCEs and relevant processes, mechanisms and organizational and socio-political contexts and substantiate and refine a conceptual model of health impact by SCEs. Clinical Trial: Not applicable.