Citizen engagement for health equity: evidence from the 4P-CAN project
M Geantă, C Cioroboiu, MC GhițăAbstract
Background
Primary cancer prevention is widely acknowledged as a shared responsibility among citizens, healthcare practitioners, and policymakers. In line with the objectives of EU Cancer Mission, the 4P-CAN project aims to reduce cancer risk factors, improve prevention, and address inequalities.
Objectives
To evaluate the extent to which the integration of citizen engagement within 4P-CAN aids in understanding and addressing health disparities in cancer prevention in rural regions of Eastern Europe.
Methods
The project has employed up to now a multi-layered engagement strategy. In the initial stages of the project, informing and consulting-related activities were implemented to encourage participation in the project. A stakeholder mapping exercise identified key actors across academia, healthcare, public authorities, and civil society. Living labs serve as the central co-creation mechanism, combining workshops, iterative data collection and interventions.
Results
Preliminary findings show that risk factors are socially organized, necessitating bottom-up strategies. Early stakeholder engagement and sustained community presence were indispensable for generating trust. Interventions are more effectively implemented when they are incorporated into existing local structures and targeted at individuals within their family and community networks. Using Living labs has helped us understand what works and find solutions that fit the community.
Conclusions
Equitable cancer prevention entails moving beyond top-down approaches toward community-anchored models. This calls for stronger integration of social sciences in cancer prevention research and policy; prevention strategies that address structural inequalities, including the rural-urban divide, socioeconomic disparities, differences in digital and health literacy; and permanent citizen engagement infrastructures. Living labs represent a promising model for embedding citizen engagement into routine prevention practice.