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. 2021 May;24 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):134-146.
doi: 10.1111/hex.13088. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

Reflections, impact and recommendations of a co-produced qualitative study with young people who have experience of mental health difficulties

Lindsay H Dewa  1   2 , Anna Lawrence-Jones  1 , Caroline Crandell  3 , Jack Jaques  3 , Katy Pickles  3 , Mary Lavelle  4 , Sofia Pappa  5 , Paul Aylin  1   2
Affiliations

Reflections, impact and recommendations of a co-produced qualitative study with young people who have experience of mental health difficulties

Lindsay H Dewa et al. Health Expect. 2021 May.

Abstract

Background: There is limited evidence of genuine equal partnership where power is shared with young people with mental health difficulties throughout all research stages, particularly in data collection and analysis.

Objective: To describe how our qualitative study, exploring young peoples' perceptions on the feasibility of using technology to detect mental health deterioration, was co-produced using principles of co-production, whilst reflecting on impact, challenges and recommendations.

Methods: Young people with experience of mental health difficulties were appointed and then worked with researchers throughout all research stages. The study was evaluated against the five principles of co-production. Reflections from researchers and young people were collected throughout.

Results: Seven young people formed an initial Young People's Advisory Group (YPAG); three became co-researchers. Reflection was key throughout the process. Sharing power became easier and more evident as trust, confidence and mutual respect grew over time, particularly after a safe space was established. The safe space was crucial for open discussions, and our WhatsApp group enabled continual communication, support and shared decision-making. The resulting co-produced topic guide, coding framework, thematic map, papers and presentations demonstrated significant impact.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first qualitative mental health study to be co-produced using the principles of co-production. Our rigorous assessment can be utilized as an informative document to help others to produce meaningful co-produced future research. Although co-production takes time, it makes significant impact to the research, researchers and co-researchers. Flexible funding for spontaneous suggestions from co-researchers and more time for interview training is recommended.

Keywords: co-production; health research; mental health; patient and public involvement; technology; young people.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors have completed the Unified Competing Form and declare: no support from any organization for the submitted work; no financial relationships with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous three years; and no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow chart showing young person involvement by principles of co‐production throughout all research stages
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Section of thematic map before co‐researcher involvement
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Section of thematic map after co‐researcher involvement
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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