Demystifying programme theories of co-production in health and welfare: An interview study on new researchers’ systems perspectives
Abstract Background Coproduction is an inclusive approach for improving health and social care services, and coproduction research mostly focuses on participating stakeholders who are not researchers. Programme theories are important for designing, evaluating and disseminating change initiatives; ho...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Health Research Policy and Systems |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-025-01368-y |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849234325378170880 |
|---|---|
| author | Annika Nordin Sofia Kjellström Ann-Christine Andersson |
| author_facet | Annika Nordin Sofia Kjellström Ann-Christine Andersson |
| author_sort | Annika Nordin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Coproduction is an inclusive approach for improving health and social care services, and coproduction research mostly focuses on participating stakeholders who are not researchers. Programme theories are important for designing, evaluating and disseminating change initiatives; however, few empirical studies on quality improvement initiatives or coproduction projects include explicit programme theories. This study addresses these knowledge gaps by describing new researchers’ initial implicit programme theories of coproduction from three different system perspectives. Methods This is a cross-sectional interview substudy that includes 12 respondents. The respondents are new researchers (doctoral students) in Samskapa, an international research programme. The respondents conduct their studies in their own national contexts: Western Europe and North America. The interviews focus on their thoughts and experiences of coproduction, and the data are analysed using directed content analysis based on central concepts of programme theory. Coded statements are additionally coded for the system perspective they refer to. To describe programme theories of coproduction from micro-, meso- and macrosystem perspectives, a latent interpretation of the data is carried out. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist for qualitative studies was used to assure quality standards. Results A generic programme theory of coproduction is suggested: If microsystem actors collaborate, facilitated by mesosystem mediators and supported by macrosystem managements’ feedback and engagement, then coproduction will occur and health and welfare systems will improve. Conclusions Coproduction projects are complex interventions that exhibit equifinality – a principle from open systems theory which posits that similar outcomes can be achieved through multiple, distinct pathways. Programme theories of coproduction from several system perspectives can be merged into a generic programme theory, which in turn can capture the interventions’ complexity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6494a34b60634833955adf9d32d4fbc2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1478-4505 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Research Policy and Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-6494a34b60634833955adf9d32d4fbc22025-08-20T04:03:12ZengBMCHealth Research Policy and Systems1478-45052025-07-012311910.1186/s12961-025-01368-yDemystifying programme theories of co-production in health and welfare: An interview study on new researchers’ systems perspectivesAnnika Nordin0Sofia Kjellström1Ann-Christine Andersson2Department of Quality Improvement and Leadership, Jönköping Academy for Improvement of Health and Welfare, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping UniversityDepartment of Quality Improvement and Leadership, Jönköping Academy for Improvement of Health and Welfare, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping UniversityDepartment of Quality Improvement and Leadership, Jönköping Academy for Improvement of Health and Welfare, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping UniversityAbstract Background Coproduction is an inclusive approach for improving health and social care services, and coproduction research mostly focuses on participating stakeholders who are not researchers. Programme theories are important for designing, evaluating and disseminating change initiatives; however, few empirical studies on quality improvement initiatives or coproduction projects include explicit programme theories. This study addresses these knowledge gaps by describing new researchers’ initial implicit programme theories of coproduction from three different system perspectives. Methods This is a cross-sectional interview substudy that includes 12 respondents. The respondents are new researchers (doctoral students) in Samskapa, an international research programme. The respondents conduct their studies in their own national contexts: Western Europe and North America. The interviews focus on their thoughts and experiences of coproduction, and the data are analysed using directed content analysis based on central concepts of programme theory. Coded statements are additionally coded for the system perspective they refer to. To describe programme theories of coproduction from micro-, meso- and macrosystem perspectives, a latent interpretation of the data is carried out. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist for qualitative studies was used to assure quality standards. Results A generic programme theory of coproduction is suggested: If microsystem actors collaborate, facilitated by mesosystem mediators and supported by macrosystem managements’ feedback and engagement, then coproduction will occur and health and welfare systems will improve. Conclusions Coproduction projects are complex interventions that exhibit equifinality – a principle from open systems theory which posits that similar outcomes can be achieved through multiple, distinct pathways. Programme theories of coproduction from several system perspectives can be merged into a generic programme theory, which in turn can capture the interventions’ complexity.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-025-01368-y |
| spellingShingle | Annika Nordin Sofia Kjellström Ann-Christine Andersson Demystifying programme theories of co-production in health and welfare: An interview study on new researchers’ systems perspectives Health Research Policy and Systems |
| title | Demystifying programme theories of co-production in health and welfare: An interview study on new researchers’ systems perspectives |
| title_full | Demystifying programme theories of co-production in health and welfare: An interview study on new researchers’ systems perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Demystifying programme theories of co-production in health and welfare: An interview study on new researchers’ systems perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Demystifying programme theories of co-production in health and welfare: An interview study on new researchers’ systems perspectives |
| title_short | Demystifying programme theories of co-production in health and welfare: An interview study on new researchers’ systems perspectives |
| title_sort | demystifying programme theories of co production in health and welfare an interview study on new researchers systems perspectives |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-025-01368-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annikanordin demystifyingprogrammetheoriesofcoproductioninhealthandwelfareaninterviewstudyonnewresearcherssystemsperspectives AT sofiakjellstrom demystifyingprogrammetheoriesofcoproductioninhealthandwelfareaninterviewstudyonnewresearcherssystemsperspectives AT annchristineandersson demystifyingprogrammetheoriesofcoproductioninhealthandwelfareaninterviewstudyonnewresearcherssystemsperspectives |