Les communités de Pratiques(CoPs): un outil pour renforcer l'approche en santé communautaire(SC) ou soutenir l'intégration social-santé sur le territoire RBC

*Alvarez Irusta, Lucia [IRSS UCLouvain ] *Kirkove, Delphine [Département des sciences de la Santé Publique, Université de Liège ] *La Plagia, Vincent [Centre FoRS, Domaine des sciences politiques et sociales & Information et communication, Haute Ecole Namur-Liège-Luxembourg-Hénallux ]

Introduction CoPs are groups of individuals with a common field of interest and similar professional experiences, who seek to learn from each other through regular interaction within a defined framework. CoPs have generated a lot of interest, in terms of how they can strengthen both CH and CI - the latter currently focused on the new role of “Trusted Front Line Professional” -TFLP). The CoP tool has been deployed in two separate Belgian contexts. In the cities of Liège and Namur in Wallonia, the focus has been on CH. These COPs are supported by the BeHive Chair in collaboration with Local Health Promotion Centres (CLPS). Four CoPs are being supported within the Brussels-Capital Region by Brusano. The research on these CoPs has adopted a capabilities approach. Its aims are to: - identify the conditions that are conducive to the emergence or realization of the CH and TFLP practices, as well as the difficulties encountered in carrying them out, and - identify their effects on the participants and their working environments as they participate in the CoPs. Method In both contexts we used a qualitative approach to study the CoPs’ content through thematic analysis. In addition, a quantitative approach was used to assess the 'health' of the CoPs and their functioning. Results The CoPs, while diverse, share the commonality of bringing together professionals around a common interest. Yet their development remains heterogeneous. Preliminary results point to factors that can encourage the initiation and subsequent implementation of CH practices or activate the emergence of the TFLP role, such as the development of a care relationship grounded in trust, or the presence of an organizational context that is conducive to the adoption of new practices or roles. The CoPs also appear to have a positive impact on professionals thanks to the CoPs fostering mutual learning, group reflection on their organizations’ respective practices, and group discussion and problem-solving regarding various target groups. Discussion The results highlight certain mechanisms that affect the adoption of CH or CI practices, such as: - Defining these practices as a way to address current public health challenges - Including critical self-reflection on the participants’ professional identity and legitimacy generated by their adoption of activities and roles that live within a certain conceptual ambiguity. Conclusions Despite their different contexts and start-up processes, the feedback from both types of CoPs converge, both in terms of the research, field practice and experiential knowledge. The CoP dynamics enrich individual and organizational practices by providing a missing link in the development of more experiential skills and knowledge, facilitating their practical transfer to the healthcare system.