Co-production of a nature-based intervention for children with ADHD study (CONIFAS): Protocol for co-production phases

Abstract

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can face difficulties with inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which can impact many areas of their lives, including their educational attainment and social and emotional wellbeing. Involvement in nature-based activities can reduce these difficulties and improve wellbeing, but there are limited resources for supporting children with this diagnosis to access these approaches and no nature-based interventions designed with and for this group. This protocol describes a co-production study in which children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder aged 5–11 years old, their parents/guardians, and professionals will attend a series of workshops to share their knowledge to co-produce a new nature-based intervention for this population of children. We aim to understand how the children’s’ experiences of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may affect their interactions with nature, identify how activity in and with nature may help with symptom reduction and general wellbeing, and co-produce an intervention for families which applies our learning. The result of this study will be the designed intervention and insights into how children and young people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder interact with nature. The prototype intervention will then undergo feasibility testing in a future study. Trail registration: NIHR203043; ISRCTN11763460.

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

“…CONIFAS aimed to develop an accessible and engaging naturebased intervention with and for children with ADHD, their parents/guardians, and a group of relevant professional stakeholders (Armitt et al, 2022). Collaborators on this study included Humber Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the University of York, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, and the ADHD Foundation…”

“…As this paper aims to reflect on the practice of co-production, details of phase three (user-testing) and the participants involved are not shared here. See Armitt et al (2022) for details of phase three.…”