Peer-reviewed article

Developing a youth sustainability healthy active living intervention for chronic disease prevention and environmental sustainability through community engagement and codesign: protocol for a multimethod community-based participatory research study in Canada and Jamaica.

Rosain Stennett, Sujane Kandasamy, Diana Sherifali, Russell J de Souza, Dipika Desai et al. · 7 Oct 2026

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Most non-communicable diseases (NCDs) develop through multiple complex pathways that involve non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors. Prevention efforts optimally involve a life course approach that promotes healthy eating and physical activity because behaviours adopted early in adolescence and young adulthood are likely to be sustained and can prevent NCDs in later life. This research protocol describes a community-based co-designed study taking place in Canada and Jamaica that positions youth aged 15-25 as agents-of-change in their communities to increase knowledge and develop tools to adopt and promote sustainable practices and healthy active living. METHODS: The SCORE! Youth Sustainability Healthy Active Living (SCORE! Youth-SHAL)-Community Engagement and Co-design is a multimethod community-based participatory research (CBPR) study to be conducted in two sequential stages. Stage 1 involves community contextual mapping, a maximum of two community engagement workshops along with key informant interviews with both youth and stakeholders. Stage 2 includes a co-design workshop with local youth to develop customised healthy active living activities. Participants will be recruited using convenience and purposive sampling. Workshops and interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed. Data will be collected to understand the SHAL intervention's feasibility, fidelity and contextual fit across diverse settings. Content and thematic analysis will occur concurrently and iteratively with data collection. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has approval from Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board in Health Sciences, Brock University Research Ethics Board, The University of the West Indies-Mona Campus Research Ethics Committee, and Ministry of Health and Wellness, Jamaica-Advisory Panel on Ethics and Medico-Legal Affairs. Findings assist in finalising a SHAL intervention for youth in equity-deserving populations. We will also publish the study results in an academic journal and present at conferences, webinars and workshops.