Who is this website for?
This website stems from the collaboration of key stakeholders in NHS Scotland and Glasgow Caledonian University. We aim to provide educational content and relevant signposting to Allied Health Professionals wishing to use methods of co-creation.
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Dr Laura Blackburn led the development of this resource as part of an assessment for her Doctor of Physiotherapy degree. She welcomes feedback and new connections. If you would like to get in touch, you can reach her at laura.blackburn@gcu.ac.uk
To review the privacy notice, click here.
Why co-create
Many interventions in health care stem from a top-down approach, with experts (such as researchers) identifying a
problem and providing a solution. Top-down approaches seem logical, as highly skilled experts apply theory and evidence to inform the design of the intervention. However, failing to integrate service users and other stakeholders into the design process creates the risk of producing an intervention with reduced applicability to the population.
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Co-creation, one method of Participatory Action Research, describes another process for designing interventions. All key stakeholders, including the patient, collaborate to create the most appropriate intervention.
Co-creation aims to address complex social system problems usually resistant to health intervention, such as noncommunicable diseases, which are often modifiable through lifestyle choices.
Is it worth it?
Complex social system problems might be considered a ‘wicked problem’ faced by health professionals. The video to the left illustrates dangers of poor intervention design.
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Video created by @learnsustainability
The table below compares some of the different methods available to you.
To know more about how co-creation aligns to person-centered care, click here.
Click here to read a systematic review highlighting the need for better quality research using participatory methods.
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Check your learning
Do you:
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understand the benefits of co-creation over other intervention design methods?
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understand how co-creation aligns or differs to person centred care?
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If you answered yes, you understand the basics of co-creation. It is time to dive deeper into your learning: