Co-creation in public health research: an introduction to basic principles

Area of Science:

• Public Health Research
• Participatory Design
• Community Engagement

Background:

• Co-creation is a participatory design approach utilizing non-academic actors' experiential knowledge.
• Its adoption is growing in public health to improve intervention relevance, acceptability, and impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a practical introduction to co-creation for public health researchers.
• To outline key considerations for applying co-creation in public health research.

Main Methods:

• This perspective article draws on authors' experiences with co-creation in public health.
• Identifies four critical areas for consideration in co-creation projects.

Main Results:

• Key considerations include: collaborator selection (power dynamics, interests), process frameworks/guidelines, required capacities (e.g., emotional intelligence), and practicalities (resources, ethics).

Conclusions:

• Co-creation offers a pathway to more effective, impactful, and user-centered public health research designs and interventions.
• Researchers should carefully consider collaborator dynamics, process structure, necessary skills, and logistical aspects for successful implementation.