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

An approach that considers community quality of life is described. The appr oach draws upon recent developments in health promotion and quality of life , and applies these concepts within a community-based health promotion fram ework. The approach draws upon developments in the social indicators and ur ban quality areas, as well as contemporary Healthy Cities and population he alth work. It operates within the naturalistic or qualitative inquiry parad igm and strives to be community based through use of a participatory and co llaborative methodology. Community members, service providers and elected r epresentatives within Two Metropolitan Toronto communities were asked to co nsider community factors that affect community members' quality of life. Th eir statements and comments were analysed to identify themes. These finding s were used to construct case studies of each community. The value of our m ethodology is considered, and initial findings presented.