Community engagement in public health palliative care: A comparative ethnographic study of two culturally distinct compassionate communities in Canada

Background:
Compassionate communities are part of an international public health movement aiming to address social determinants of death by fostering supportive environments. Yet, empirical research on community engagement in this field is still limited, particularly the influence of local contexts on engagement patterns.
Objectives:
This study aimed to identify effective engagement practices and contextual factors influencing the development and sustainability of compassionate communities.
Research design and method:
A comparative ethnographic method was used to examine community engagement processes in two culturally distinct compassionate communities in Montréal (Canada): Centre-Sud and West Island. Data collection included participant observation, semistructured interviews, and logbooks. Informed by developmental evaluation, the analysis was guided by a thematic lens approach and the Ecology of Engagement framework.
Results:
Two distinct, context-sensitive paths to community engagement emerged, shaped by the sociocultural realities of each setting. In Centre-Sud, a grassroots, community-led approach focused on shared leadership and building trust fostered a resilient network that achieved sustainability through the creation of an independent nonprofit organization. In contrast, West Island’s institutionally led strategy was a pragmatic response to navigate contextual barriers like preexisting community distrust, achieving sustainability by embedding the initiative within the lead organization via a permanent staff role.
Conclusion:
This comparative ethnography demonstrates that success is not defined by a single model but by adapting engagement strategies to local dynamics of trust and power. It highlights that while community-led approaches can foster deep ownership, institutionally led strategies can provide a crucial pathway to sustainability in contexts facing systemic barriers. The study offers a practical framework for practitioners and key lessons for developing evidence-based policy to support compassionate communities in diverse settings.