Author: Anita Kothari
On October 20, 2022, the IKTRN was delighted to host The Future: Research Coproduction in Healthcare Colloquium, featuring speakers Jo Cooke, Bev Holmes, Joe Langley, Claire Ludwig, Katrina Plamondon and Jo Rycroft-Malone. The purpose of the event was to advance some of the ideas in our book Research Coproduction in Healthcare, edited by Ian Graham, Jo Rycroft-Malone, Chris McCutcheon and me. We explored the implications of a principles-based approach to research coproduction; considered how meaningful partnerships are achieved with different types of knowledge users; and forecasted the changes required to build a systems architecture that nourishes collaboration.
The speakers, who wrote some of the chapters in the book, were chosen to provide a range of perspectives (researchers, funders, patient, health services executive) from different countries (Canada, UK) through different coproduction lenses (e.g., design engineering; Indigenous and global approaches; large, geographic-based collaborations and project-based collaborations). We had a wonderful turnout with 55 attendees, mostly from Canada but also from England, Ireland, Sweden, Finland and the United States. All attendees responding to the post-event evaluation survey indicated that the colloquium was either good or excellent. In this blog post I’ll summarize a few key takeaways from the event.
Overall, I was really pleased that the conversation addressed the future of coproduction rather than being stuck discussing the right way to do coproduction or the right principles underlying coproduction. There were some gems that I’ll incorporate into my own research, such as uncovering and reporting how the basic principles (including all perspectives/inclusion, sharing power, respecting and valuing everyone’s contributions/mutual respect and tolerance, reciprocity, building relationships, flexible iterations of learning) are adapted in different situations and who adapts them. The speakers also noted that we as a community need to report on the negative stuff (“the good, bad and the ugly”) that happens as coproduction research is planned and executed because we learn from our mistakes. And finally, we were reminded to write about the coproduction work we’re involved in, not necessarily for the sake of formal publication but to share and grow from our experiences.
There were also learnings that I’ll incorporate into my own coproduction practices. There were big discussions about power and the skills required to recognize and rebalance power. First, I heard that this involves understanding my own assumptions along with other team members’ assumptions in order to appreciate their motivation for participating in the research. Then I learned a few helpful hints for enacting inclusivity without reinforcing systems of inequity. For example, creating inclusive and welcoming spaces might mean multiple tables of dialogue, and that dialogue doesn’t just happen at the start of the research but is an on-going and iterative process. One of the speakers suggested taking on a service orientation to remain alert to opportunities for inclusivity and deeper learning. Creating wins is important, especially wins that are visible through prototyping or showing iterations. While this type of sharing might not involve a common language, it can still be authentic and genuine.
Finally, the stimulating conversations left me with gems to ponder. How deep into the implementation space should coproduction teams go, because sometimes it’s not just about embedding a new intervention but also about changing the culture around research, where research is seen as a useful endeavor. We also talked about productive tension or productive conflict that, with humility and dialogue, can help team members appreciate each other’s perspectives. These tensions don’t have to mean a failed relationship! Instead, speakers suggested that productive tension can lead to unpacking those assumptions within the system that create motivations or priorities associated with seemingly disparate team members.
It was truly a fascinating event that I continue to think about. If you missed it, please see the IKTRN website for the colloquium recording and details about the book.