Creation of a Collaborative Model for Community Health Promotion Through Empowerment Among Community Health Workers in Japan: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

To promote community‐based health, it is important to develop a practical model that integrates the perspectives of both public health nurses (PHNs) and community health workers (CHWs). This study explored collaboration and empowerment between PHNs and CHWs and used the findings to construct a collaborative model. Using empowerment and collaboration as the research framework, qualitative interviews were conducted with five PHNs and 24 CHWs from five municipalities in Japan. Individual interviews were held with PHNs, and group interviews (4–6 participants) were conducted with CHWs. An inductive qualitative analysis was performed. The data were organized into 7 themes. PHNs recognized CHWs' roles in supporting residents' lifestyles, building trust, promoting discussion, and collaborating. CHWs formed connections within their communities, communicated within their organizations, and found meaning in their work. These findings informed the creation of a collaborative model. The proposed model can help enhance the practical skills of health professionals involved in community health promotion and support effective collaboration between PHNs and CHWs.