Conceptualising, operationalising, and measuring trust in participatory health research networks: a scoping review

Abstract

Background There are many described benefits of community-based participatory research (CBPR), such as increased relevance of research for those who must act on its findings. This has prompted researchers to better understand how CBPR functions to achieve these benefits through building sustainable research partnerships. Several studies have identified “trust” as a key mechanism to achieve sustainable partnerships, which themselves constitute social networks. Although existing literature discusses trust and CBPR, or trust and social networks, preliminary searches reveal that none link all three concepts of trust, CBPR, and social networks. Thus, we present our scoping review to systematically review and synthesize the literature exploring how trust is conceptualised, operationalised, and measured in CBPR and social networks. Methods This review follows the guidance and framework of Peters et al. which is underpinned by the widely used framework of Levac and colleagues. Levac and colleagues provided enhancements to the methodological framework of Arksey and O’Malley. We explored several electronic databases including Scopus, Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and PsychINFO. A search strategy was identified and agreed upon by the team in conjunction with a research librarian. Two independent reviewers screened articles by title and abstract, then by full-text based on pre-determined exclusion/inclusion criteria. A third reviewer arbitrated discrepancies regarding inclusions/exclusions. A thematic analysis was then conducted to identify relevant themes and sub-themes. Results Based on the 26 extracted references, several key themes and sub-themes were identified which highlighted the complexity and multidimensionality of trust as a concept. Our analysis revealed an additional emergent category that highlighted another important dimension of trust—outcomes pertaining to trust. Further, variation within how the studies conceptualised, operationalised, and measured trust was illuminated. Finally, the multidimensionality of trust provided important insight into how trust operates as a context, mechanism, and outcome. Conclusions Findings provide support for future research to incorporate trust as a lens to explore the social-relational aspects of partnerships and the scope to develop interventions to support trust in partnerships.

Exploring the Multidimensionality of Trust in Participatory Health Partnerships - A Network Approach

“…All members were involved in the preceding PPI Ignite grant (2017–2020) and thus have a track record of working together. This group provided input and approval for the research objectives for this social network analysis and were similarly involved with the previous scoping review ( 9 ). The group was also involved in designing the network survey, specifically by ensuring the applicability and readability of the survey.…”

“…A network survey is a questionnaire used to generate names and connections among individuals in a network ( 19 , 20 ). The network survey in this study was designed based on the dimensions of trust identified by Gilfoyle et al ( 9 ) and in collaboration with the Research Advisory Group to ensure the appropriateness and readability of survey questions. The survey was administered electronically via Qualtrics software (Qualtrics software, Version May 2021 to August 2021).…”

“…A 2022 review by Gilfoyle et al ( 9 ) sought to address this gap by exploring how trust is conceptualized, operationalised and measured in both PHR and social network literature. Specifically, PHR partnerships can be seen as a social network , defined as connections (i.e., edges ) among people (i.e., nodes ), organizations, or other social actors; social network analysis is a methodology for describing and measuring these contextual and relational dynamics among and between social actors ( 10 ).…”

“…Specifically, PHR partnerships can be seen as a social network , defined as connections (i.e., edges ) among people (i.e., nodes ), organizations, or other social actors; social network analysis is a methodology for describing and measuring these contextual and relational dynamics among and between social actors ( 10 ). Authors from this review ( 9 ) posited that social network analysis provides tools for investigating the development and maintenance of trust and trustworthiness and their effects on partnership functioning within PHR social networks ( 11 ). Social networks have been used to explore trust in education ( 12 ), workplaces ( 13 , 14 ), flood risk management ( 15 ) and even health partnerships ( 16 , 17 ) but trust is not consistently and reliably conceptualized, operationalised and measured, and is often treated in an oversimplified manner.…”

“…When discussing the multidimensions of trust, we mean that, “the lack of consensus surrounding a definition of trust speaks to its complexity as a concept. Specifically, it is not only a psychological phenomenon but also a social one, and it can vary for each individual, across different social interactions, and across disciplines” ( 9 ).…”