Reflections and practical tips from co-producing an intervention with neurodiverse children, their families, and professional stakeholders

Transdisciplinary co-produced health research and co-designed interventions can improve research quality and the relevance, acceptability, and accessibility of healthcare while addressing power imbalances by sharing decision-making with service-users and the public. However, detailed accounts of practice are limited, making the methodology difficult to appraise and develop. The CO-production of a Nature-based Intervention For children with ADHD study (CONIFAS) aimed to create a novel intervention with and for children with ADHD using co-production and co-design. This knowledge exchange paper shares reflections and practical tips for researchers, particularly those working with under-represented groups. The team sought to adequately resource co-production, share power, value diversity, and develop trust. Reconceptualising the researcher role in co-production was challenging. While models provided a framework, the specifics of workshop design and equitable engagement relied on clinical skills, networking, and creativity. These methods are pertinent when involving neurodiverse children and families who are under-represented in participatory research and need bespoke health interventions.

Hannah A. Armitt, Leah Attwell, Ellen N. Kingsley, Piran C. L. White, Kat Woolley, Megan Garside, Natasha Green, Peter A. Coventry