Community voices on health, wellness, and engagement: A qualitative process evaluation of a university extension program

Noncommunicable diseases demand community programs that are meaningful, feasible, and sustainable. This qualitative process evaluation examined a university-led public health and wellness extension program implemented in Philippine local communities. It documented how participants define health, wellness, and engagement; describe perceived benefits and prevention relevance; identify barriers and facilitators to participation; and articulate improvement priorities. Data were generated from semi-structured interviews with community beneficiaries ( n = 10) and documentary testimonials from faculty extensionists ( n = 4) and student extensionists ( n = 7). Reflexive thematic analysis showed that participants framed health as holistic (physical and mental) and linked wellness to practical routines including stress regulation, self-care, nutrition-related skills, and movement. Engagement reflected belonging and psychological safety that supported sharing and sustained attendance, alongside diffusion of learning to others. Perceived benefits included increased health knowledge, coping and stress relief, practical lifestyle skills, and accessible prevention supports. Barriers included limited slots, scheduling constraints, fatigue, and contextual stressors, while facilitators included continuity, adequate resources, and community cooperation. The study proposes a contextually grounded process model linking activities, participant meanings, perceived benefits, implementation conditions, and improvement priorities to support iterative refinement of community wellness programming in similar university-extension settings.