The Community Quality of Life Project: a health promotion approach to understanding communities

An approach that considers community quality of life is described. The approach draws upon recent developments in health promotion and quality of life, and applies these concepts within a community-based health promotion framework. The approach draws upon developments in the social indicators and urban quality areas, as well as contemporary Healthy Cities and population health work. It operates within the naturalistic or qualitative inquiry paradigm and strives to be community based through use of a participatory and collaborative methodology. Community members, service providers and elected representatives within Two Metropolitan Toronto communities were asked to consider community factors that affect community members' quality of life. Their statements and comments were analysed to identify themes. These findings were used to construct case studies of each community. The value of our methodology is considered, and initial findings presented.