‘Collective making’ as knowledge mobilisation: the contribution of participatory design in the co-creation of knowledge in healthcare

Abstract

The discourse in healthcare Knowledge Mobilisation (KMb) literature has shifted from simple, linear models of research knowledge production and action to more iterative and complex models. These aim to blend multiple stakeholders’ knowledge with research knowledge to address the research-practice gap. It has been suggested there is no ‘magic bullet’, but that a promising approach to take is knowledge co-creation in healthcare, particularly if a number of principles are applied. These include systems thinking, positioning research as a creative enterprise with human experience at its core, and paying attention to process within the partnership. This discussion paper builds on this proposition and extends it beyond knowledge co-creation to co-designing evidenced based interventions and implementing them. Within a co-design model, we offer a specific approach to share, mobilise and activate knowledge, that we have termed ‘collective making’. We draw on KMb, design, wider literature, and our experiences to describe how this framework supports and extends the principles of co-creation offered by Geenhalgh et al. [1] in the context of the state of the art of knowledge mobilisation. We describe how collective making creates the right ‘conditions’ for knowledge to be mobilised particularly addressing issues relating to stakeholder relationships, helps to discover, share and blend different forms of knowledge from different stakeholders, and puts this blended knowledge to practical use allowing stakeholders to learn about the practical implications of knowledge use and to collectively create actionable products. We suggest this collective making has three domains of influence: on the participants; on the knowledge discovered and shared; and on the mobilisation or activation of this knowledge.

A Virtual Agent to Support Individuals Living With Physical and Mental Comorbidities: Co-Design and Acceptability Testing

“…The explicit use of creative methods in coproduction addresses many of the challenges of coproduction, namely imbalances or deficits of power, language, trust, and time. It fosters an inclusive nonhierarchical environment [28] that allows all participants to be recognized as experts and produces results in the form of visible and tangible outputs owned by those who created them [29]. …”

Frameworks for supporting patient and public involvement in research: Systematic review and co‐design pilot

“…We adapted the interactive and participatory methodology described by previous authors. 29,37 Prior to the first workshop, we made large-scale diagrams of the different "best-in-class" frameworks from our systematic review and invited the groups to talk about them and use sticky notes to annotate them. We systematically captured and incorporated their suggestions for adaptation, and sought input from a professional design service to produce resources in multiple formats.…”

“…This literature includes reviews of approaches to co-creation of knowledge 102 and the sociology of design, 103 and (more specifically relevant to our empirical work) a recent theorization of "collective making." 29 In the last of these, Langley et al propose three domains of influence when people from different sectors come together to engage in creative play:…”

Building Research Capacity for Impact in Applied Health Services Research Partnerships Comment on "Experience of Health Leadership in Partnering With University-Based Researchers in Canada – A Call to "Re-imagine" Research"

“…We have found that co-creative practices, using design approaches can be helpful for power sharing. 12 One research theme, for example, developed a series of 'Getting Research into Practice'(GRiP) projects to work with clinical teams and services users on projects using co-creative design methods with them. Clinical teams applied to the CLAHRC to undertake a GRiP project The ACORN CoP aims to mobilise and develop knowledge around RCD within service provider organizations.…”