Using a 'rich picture' to facilitate systems thinking in research coproduction.

Area of Science:

• Systems Science
• Public Health Research
• Knowledge Translation

Background:

• Coproduction research involves end-users throughout the research process to enhance translation, timeliness, and relevance.
• Diverse end-user perspectives in coproduction present challenges, necessitating tools for navigating divergent viewpoints.
• Rich pictures, a systems thinking tool, aid in understanding complexity and are explored for coproduction applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and application of a 'rich picture' in a coproduction project involving policy-level partners.
• To enhance transparency of a system monitoring childhood obesity prevention programs for research partners.
• To spark new insights for improving the quality of program implementation through a facilitated workshop.

Main Methods:

• Systemic analysis of ethnographic fieldnotes from a study on an IT system for childhood obesity prevention programs.
• Translation of qualitative themes into visual metaphor and imagery to create a rich picture representing user experiences.
• Facilitation of a workshop with policy-level program administrators (n=7) using the rich picture and guided questions.

Main Results:

• Participants engaged in discussions, challenging thinking on system functioning and identifying areas for quality improvement.
• The rich picture was deemed a constructive tool for engaging with ethnographic data, though its implications were challenging.
• Co-learning among participants, facilitated by the rich picture, was identified as an added value.

Conclusions:

• The rich picture, within a facilitated workshop, enabled research partners to engage with complex findings and gain insights.
• The value of the rich picture was maximized through a guided participatory process.
• Future applications of such tools should integrate practices that support participants in applying systems thinking concepts.