Table 1

Sources used to identify civil-society engagement practices

Database or sourceInformation about database or source and procedure
Lexis NexisOnline database for newspapers, webpages and magazines.
CoostoOnline database for messages on social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Youtube, Instagram, Pinterest, Reddit.
MunicipalitiesPer province (n=12), the two municipalities with the largest population and the one municipality with the smallest population were contacted via email*
Regional Health Consultants and municipal health services (MHS)MHS are decentralised public health organisations aiming to protect the health of citizens within their region. During COVID-19, their role was to execute COVID-19 management, for example, testing, contact tracing and vaccination.41 In this study, MHS were contacted via Regional Health Consultants, who have an advisory role to MHS in their catchment areas. All Regional Health Consultants in the Netherlands (n=7) were contacted to randomly select two or three MHS in their areas and ask via email* whether these MHS knew about CSEPs in their region.
The Committee on Petitions and Citizen’s InitiativesThe committee receives proposals from organised groups within society to be considered by the House of Representatives. These proposals aim to create, amend or withdraw a regulation of policy of the government.42 This committee was contacted via email*
The Committee of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and SportsThe committee monitors the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports regularly debates with ministers or prepares the handling of new policy regarding Health, Welfare and Sports.43 This committee receives letters from citizens initiatives and petitions. They were contacted via email*
Colleague experts at the National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentPersons who were involved in integrating societal perspectives into COVID-19 management at the National Institute of Public Health in the Netherlands. They were contacted via email*

  • *A similar email was sent to these sources stating the following aspects: introduction of researchers and study, explanation of the study goal, explanation of our definition of CSEP with various examples of national and local CSEPs, request for help in identifying CSEPs that they were aware of within their region or work field, and a request for a referral to a colleague who could answer our question.

  • CSEPs, civil-society engagement practices.