An Age-Adapted Co-Design Methodology for Community Health Research Involving Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Gerontology

Background:

• Co-design is increasingly utilized in health and social care research.
• Applying co-design with older adults in community settings presents methodological challenges.
• Age-adapted co-design methods are essential for ensuring meaningful participation among older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an age-adapted co-design methodology.
• To involve older adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a community setting.
• To assess the methodology's acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative approach was employed, incorporating exploratory interviews, design probes, clarification interviews, a co-design workshop, and evaluation interviews.
• The study involved 24 participants: older adults with T2DM, community workers, healthcare professionals, and extended reality (XR) designers.
• The methodology was systematically examined for its acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility.

Main Results:

• The age-adapted co-design methodology was found to be generally acceptable, appropriate, and feasible.
• Participants found activities manageable and low-burden when linked to everyday life, supported by visual materials and simple prompts.
• Challenges included unfamiliar concepts, tool interpretation, workshop duration, and practical constraints; iterative refinements addressed these issues.

Conclusions:

• An age-adapted, multi-stage co-design methodology is valuable for engaging older adults in community health research.
• Grounding co-design in lived experience is crucial for effective participation.
• Utilizing age-friendly materials and iteratively refining methods enhances engagement and research outcomes.