Experience-based co-design-Adapting the method for a researcher-initiated study in a multi-site setting

Area of Science:

• Healthcare research methodology
• Patient and public involvement in healthcare
• Intervention development and testing

Background:

• Experience-based co-design (EBCD) typically involves a single organization for service co-design.
• This study adapted traditional EBCD within a larger British National Health Service research project.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of research-initiated EBCD.
• To enhance intervention development for subsequent testing.
• To adapt EBCD for multi-sector and multi-site application.

Main Methods:

• Four primary and secondary care sites were recruited.
• EBCD involved separate patient and staff groups, followed by joint events for priority setting.
• Co-design groups developed prototype tools over 2-3 months, with outputs shared across sites.

Main Results:

• Four priority areas for co-design were identified across sites.
• Prototype tools were developed by co-design groups.
• A combined intervention was created for a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Conclusions:

• EBCD is adaptable for multi-organizational use across patient pathways within research studies.
• Research-initiated EBCD can effectively identify and co-design interventions reflecting patient priorities.
• This pragmatic approach facilitated intervention development for randomized trials.