In their own words: older persons’ experiences of participating in co-creation
Abstract Background Co-creation methods ensure that interventions are tailored to the target group by incorporating their unique insights and preferences, strengthen innovation, and facilitate implementation. Although co-creation research is becoming more common, most research exploring co-creation...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Research Involvement and Engagement |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-025-00725-z |
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| author | Annikki Arola Marlene Sandlund Magdalena Eriksson Domellöf Morag E. Taylor Annika Toots |
| author_facet | Annikki Arola Marlene Sandlund Magdalena Eriksson Domellöf Morag E. Taylor Annika Toots |
| author_sort | Annikki Arola |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Co-creation methods ensure that interventions are tailored to the target group by incorporating their unique insights and preferences, strengthen innovation, and facilitate implementation. Although co-creation research is becoming more common, most research exploring co-creation focuses on the researchers’ perspectives rather than the experiences of the target population. By exploring these experiences, researchers can better understand the preferences for, and facilitators/barriers to, engagement and participation to inform future co-creation studies. This study aimed to explore older persons’ experiences and insights into participating in co-creation of an intervention to prevent falls. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 community-dwelling older persons (aged 66–83 years) after their participation in a co-creation study developing an intervention for fall prevention. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results Three themes emerged from the analysis: Diversity of co-creators enriches understanding and creativity, Interactive activities promote learning, and Supportive environments enhance collaboration. These themes describe how participating in workshops with others deepened and broadened participants’ knowledge and understanding of the subject and enabled them to contribute their experiences and perspectives. Discussing and testing exercises gave participants new insights into their physical abilities and the importance of exercise and a better understanding of the concept of motor-cognitive exercises and their role in everyday life. A respectful atmosphere where everyone shared responsibility for creating a supportive environment so all participants could express their thoughts was perceived as important by the participants. Conclusions The results underscore the potential for co-creation to enhance participants’ knowledge and understanding of the topic, as well as their own capacity. For researchers, it is important to consider how to foster an inclusive and supportive environment, thereby boosting participation, engagement and collaboration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d27a5f6aabb244ed83e2d800f89b340a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2056-7529 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Research Involvement and Engagement |
| spelling | doaj-art-d27a5f6aabb244ed83e2d800f89b340a2025-08-20T03:16:35ZengBMCResearch Involvement and Engagement2056-75292025-05-011111910.1186/s40900-025-00725-zIn their own words: older persons’ experiences of participating in co-creationAnnikki Arola0Marlene Sandlund1Magdalena Eriksson Domellöf2Morag E. Taylor3Annika Toots4Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Umeå UniversitySchool of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW SydneyDepartment of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå UniversityAbstract Background Co-creation methods ensure that interventions are tailored to the target group by incorporating their unique insights and preferences, strengthen innovation, and facilitate implementation. Although co-creation research is becoming more common, most research exploring co-creation focuses on the researchers’ perspectives rather than the experiences of the target population. By exploring these experiences, researchers can better understand the preferences for, and facilitators/barriers to, engagement and participation to inform future co-creation studies. This study aimed to explore older persons’ experiences and insights into participating in co-creation of an intervention to prevent falls. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 community-dwelling older persons (aged 66–83 years) after their participation in a co-creation study developing an intervention for fall prevention. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results Three themes emerged from the analysis: Diversity of co-creators enriches understanding and creativity, Interactive activities promote learning, and Supportive environments enhance collaboration. These themes describe how participating in workshops with others deepened and broadened participants’ knowledge and understanding of the subject and enabled them to contribute their experiences and perspectives. Discussing and testing exercises gave participants new insights into their physical abilities and the importance of exercise and a better understanding of the concept of motor-cognitive exercises and their role in everyday life. A respectful atmosphere where everyone shared responsibility for creating a supportive environment so all participants could express their thoughts was perceived as important by the participants. Conclusions The results underscore the potential for co-creation to enhance participants’ knowledge and understanding of the topic, as well as their own capacity. For researchers, it is important to consider how to foster an inclusive and supportive environment, thereby boosting participation, engagement and collaboration.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-025-00725-zCo-creationFall preventionOlder personsSubjective experience |
| spellingShingle | Annikki Arola Marlene Sandlund Magdalena Eriksson Domellöf Morag E. Taylor Annika Toots In their own words: older persons’ experiences of participating in co-creation Research Involvement and Engagement Co-creation Fall prevention Older persons Subjective experience |
| title | In their own words: older persons’ experiences of participating in co-creation |
| title_full | In their own words: older persons’ experiences of participating in co-creation |
| title_fullStr | In their own words: older persons’ experiences of participating in co-creation |
| title_full_unstemmed | In their own words: older persons’ experiences of participating in co-creation |
| title_short | In their own words: older persons’ experiences of participating in co-creation |
| title_sort | in their own words older persons experiences of participating in co creation |
| topic | Co-creation Fall prevention Older persons Subjective experience |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-025-00725-z |
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