Fostering Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration through Public Engagement As a Qualitative Research Method: An Example from Mysuru, Karnataka

Public engagement (PE) enables researchers to connect with stakeholders/public to foster collaboration, shape research, share findings, and identify new areas of exploration. Beyond this, PE can serve as a powerful qualitative method to guide research agendas through targeted questions and participatory activities. Conventional qualitative methods like in-depth interviews and focus group discussions can be resource-intensive, especially with large and diverse samples. To address this, PE was adopted as a qualitative data collection method for assessing comprehensive primary health care (CPHC) in Mysuru, Karnataka. Multiple public engagements were conducted as part of an implementation research initiative to develop a CPHC plan for the city. These engagements involved stakeholders from both health (public and private sectors) and non-health sectors (Slum Board, City Corporation, Education, Food distribution, NGOs/CBOs). This engagement provided insight into their roles and challenges in achieving convergence across preventive, promotive, and curative aspects of primary healthcare. PE allowed stakeholders to share their experiences, insights and shape the research direction, making the study more contextual and relevant. Early engagement helped identify and recruit participants for subsequent focus groups and interviews. The participatory nature of PE gave stakeholders a platform to discuss with other stakeholders the current health landscape, identify barriers, and explore facilitators for implementing CPHC in a convergent manner. Conflicting views emerged while working toward the common goal of a ‘healthy city’, as the roles and functioning modalities are structured top down; but PE proved effective in involving diverse stakeholders. However, its success depends on skilled facilitation to ensure productive dialogue. PE generated thematic data on the need for convergence, sustained engagement between health and non-health actors, and a multipronged approach to primary health care delivery while highlighting the vision for a ‘healthy city.’ It proved valuable for exploring comprehensive solutions for primary healthcare provision involving multiple and diverse stakeholders.