Co-pro example: Health CASCADE's evidence-based approach
Niamh Smith from Health CASCADE reflects on her experiences at our August Ideas Clinic and on some of the challenges involved in creating an evidence-based training package which can truly help people to plan, govern, and conduct co-creation projects.
At SCN’s recent ideas clinic, I was one of the three presenters bringing a topic to the group for discussion, feedback and, of course, ideas! I pitched a comprehensive training program for evidence-based co-creation, currently under development by the Health CASCADE team and had some specific questions I was hoping to have answered.
Health CASCADE is a European-wide research network committed to making co-creation trustworthy, and is on a mission to empower individuals and organisations to embark on co-creation journeys with purpose and precision.
Health CASCADE comprises over 30 researchers across seven European countries. They delve into the very foundations of co-creation, encompassing theory, ethics, methods, and evaluation. Beyond theory, they explore the pivotal role of technology in planning, facilitating and documenting co-creation. Health CASCADE is also conducting real-world examples of projects engaging diverse stakeholders. From young people to older adults, office workers to COPD patients, expectant mothers, and more—Health CASCADE is putting co-creation to the test by involving a multitude of voices.
As co-creation gains popularity, the risks associated with not doing it well loom large. To counter this, Health CASCADE is developing a training package that guides individuals and organisations on how to plan, govern, and conduct co-creation projects. This training draws from an evidence base that Health CASCADE's research has generated.
During the Ideas Clinic, I posed several pertinent questions:
Have you participated in any co-creation activities or training before? If yes, please share your experiences – what worked, what didn’t?
How do you envision the ideal three-day training course on co-creation? What topics or areas would you like to see covered?
Would you consider doing our co-creation course? How much would your organization be willing to pay for the course?
We will be piloting the course next year. Would you be interested in taking part in the pilot and providing feedback to help us improve the course?
The discussion at the Ideas Clinic proved incredibly fruitful but also posed significant challenges.
Core elements essential for any co-creation training were explored:
Valuing co-creators' time and expertise: One crucial aspect emphasised was the need to genuinely value co-creators' time and expertise.
Navigating power dynamics: Discussions also delved into the intricacies of power dynamics in co-creation.
Realistic expectations: Transparency and honesty regarding what can realistically be delivered, considering time and resource constraints, emerged as a key point.
Challenging Points
Apart from these core elements, some challenging points arose for the Health CASCADE team:
Unique Selling Point (USP): Defining the unique selling point of this training was a key question. How does it differ from training on other participatory research methods or resources offered by similar organisations? The training must stand out.
Target audience and payment: Identifying the target audience and determining payment structures were topics of concern. Should there be tiered payments for different types of participants? Should individuals with lived experience be invited to take part, or is it tailored specifically to researchers?
Timing of training: Determining the best time to deliver training to researchers was another critical consideration. Ideally, training should be provided before they submit grant applications or soon after they secure funding.
I will now bring these valuable insights back to her colleagues at Health CASCADE to discuss and navigate these challenging points. The input gathered from the Ideas Clinic will be instrumental in shaping the development of their co-creation training course.
A heartfelt thanks to SCN for hosting this engaging and thought-provoking session, and for providing the platform for Health CASCADE to present their innovative vision for the future of trustworthy co-creation.