Using photovoice to generate policy recommendations to improve the alcohol urban environment: A participatory action research project

Abstract

The place where we live, work and play may influence our alcohol drinking behaviours. This study aimed to present local policy recommendations on urban determinants for alcohol consumption prevention in a lowincome and a high-income area of Madrid (Spain) using a participatory action research method, with photo voice and nominal group techniques. Participants (n = 26) engaged in a photovoice project initiated a process of critical reflection by discussing and analysing their alcohol environment based on photographs they took themselves. At the end of six week group discussion sessions, participants identified 33 themes related to their alcohol environment. They later met to translate the final categories into urban policy recommendations using a logical framework approach. Then, with a nominal group, they prioritized these recommendations based on time, impact, feasibility, and cost. Finally, participants produced a total of 61 policy recommendations for the improvement of the alcohol environment, highlighting the need for researcher-community collaborations when designing public health interventions.