A Co-production Evaluation Tool Informed by Co-production Workshops for Use in Evidence Synthesis Contexts.

Area of Science:

• Evidence Synthesis
• Participatory Research
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Participatory approaches enhance evidence synthesis quality and relevance.
• Co-production involves equal partnership between research generators, beneficiaries, and stakeholders for mutual benefit.
• There is a growing emphasis on co-producing evidence syntheses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-produce a novel tool for evaluating the process of co-production within evidence syntheses.
• To develop a resource that supports the assessment of co-production in research.

Main Methods:

• Reviewed existing tools and frameworks for evaluating co-production.
• Developed an initial evaluation tool, refining it through co-production workshops.
• Piloted the tool and evaluation approach in a project focused on co-producing a logic model for evidence syntheses.

Main Results:

• Existing tools primarily support the conduct and reporting of co-production, not its evaluation.
• A new tool, the Synthesising Through Reflection And Participatory Sense-making (STRAPS) tool, was developed.
• The STRAPS tool assesses key aspects of co-production, including positionality, motivations, roles, contributions, value, skills, relationships, support, and power dynamics.

Conclusions:

• The developed tool and its administration process were effective.
• The STRAPS tool offers a standardized approach for reviewers to evaluate co-production in evidence syntheses.
• The tool can serve as a valuable starting point for review teams aiming to assess co-production, encouraging shared learning.