Valuing the health and wellbeing aspects of Community Empowerment (CE) in an Urban Regeneration context using economic evaluation techniques

Introduction: Urban regeneration programmes have been recognised as a type of population health intervention, able to address long-term socio-economic inequalities and improve residents’ quality of life. Policy has sought to emphasise the role of communities in the effective delivery of urban regeneration, as exemplified in the passing of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act by the Scottish Parliament on 17th June 2015. Currently, little is known about this link between community empowerment and health within an urban regeneration context and whether allocating resources to foster community empowerment can produce positive health.

Aim: Identify, measure and value features of Community Empowerment in an urban regeneration context to inform future policy.

Methods: Systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted to identify key elements of community empowerment within urban regeneration programmes. The causal relationship between community empowerment and health was tested through analyses of cross-sectional data from Glasgow’s GoWell regeneration study. A UK population survey Discrete Choice Experiment was (DCE) conducted to elicit preferences for community empowerment elements. 

Results: Significant positive associations between community empowerment and improved general health and mental wellbeing were revealed by regression analysis of GoWell data. DCE analyses illustrated that respondents strongest preferences are shown for the delivery of community empowerment activities requiring less time commitment, offer opportunities to participate, fully explain decision-making processes, increase social interactions with their neighbours, have help and support from stakeholders and, keep them informed of the regeneration programme. 

Conclusion: The study provides robust valuations for community empowerment elements that can be used to inform future resource allocation decisions related to the cost-effectiveness of activities that foster sense of empowerment as part of the delivery of urban regeneration programmes.