Table 2 Qualitative score and Internal consistency

Engagement Principle 1: Focus on local relevance and social determinants of health

5 (4, 5)

0.88

  Focus on issues important to my community

  Focus on health problems that the community thinks are important

  Focus on the combined interaction of factors (i.e., personal, social, economic…) that influence health status

  Focus on cultural factors that influence health behaviors

Engagement Principle 2: Acknowledgment in the community

5 (4, 5)

0.83

  Show appreciation for community time and effort

  Highlight the community’s involvement

  Give credit to community members and others for work

  Value community perspectives

Engagement Principle 3: Dissemination findings and knowledge gained to all participants

5 (5, 5)

0.84

  Let community members know what is going on with the project

  Help community members with problems of their own

  Empower community members with knowledge gained from a joint activity

  Get findings and information to community members

  Help community members disseminate information using community publications

Engagement Principle 4: Seek and use the input of community partners

5 (5, 5)

0.85

  Ask community members for input

  Use the ideas and input of community members

  Change plans as a result of community input

  Involve community members in making key decisions

  Ask community members for help with specific tasks

Engagement Principle 5: Involve a cyclical and iterative process in pursuit of objectives

5 (5, 5)

0.88

  Share the results of how things turned out with the community

  Seek community input and help at multiple stages of the process

  Inform the community of what happened when their ideas were tried

  Plan for ongoing problem solving

  Involve the community in determining next steps