'Learning and growing together': exploring consumer partnerships in a PhD, an ethnographic study.

Area of Science:

• Health Research
• Doctoral Studies
• Co-production

Background:

• Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) in health research is recognized as best practice.
• CCI aligns with principles of epistemic justice and transparent university collaborations.
• Examining consumer partnerships in PhDs is crucial given doctoral candidates' future role in co-production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and evaluate consumer partnerships within a PhD.
• To identify optimal approaches, impacts, benefits, and challenges of these partnerships.
• To gather perspectives from consumer co-researchers, the PhD candidate, and academic supervisors.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, co-produced ethnographic study over 33 months.
• Data collection included field notes, monthly logs, semi-annual interviews/focus groups, and a student reflexive diary.
• Qualitative data analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• A PhD partnership involved a student, two academics, and four consumer co-researchers, with significant time dedicated to CCI.
• Preparation for dissemination was the most frequent activity; the partnership was deemed worthwhile but challenging.
• Success factors included a collegial environment, regular meetings, and responsive co-learning; benefits were observed for individuals, research, and driving change.

Conclusions:

• Doctoral research can foster co-production, evolving over time.
• Equalizing power dynamics through relationship building and co-learning is critical.
• Supportive closure of the partnership is essential; CCI may reduce student isolation and procrastination.