Participatory Design Application in Youth Sexual Violence and Abuse Prevention: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review

Abstract

Youth sexual violence and abuse (SVA) are leading public health and human rights issues around the world. Prevention is key to reducing SVA rates and minimising resultant harms. Despite advocacy for more collaborative approaches, knowledge of how to effectively engage young people and key stakeholders in the design, implementation, and evaluation of SVA prevention programs is limited. This mixed-methods systematic review aimed to synthesise available evidence on participatory design (PD) application in primary and secondary SVA prevention targeting young people. A systematic search was executed across seven electronic databases. Eligible studies were peer-reviewed, published in English, reported primary or secondary SVA prevention, described application of PD or a related approach, and targeted young people aged 12–25 years. Quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Overall, 20 articles reporting 15 studies were included. Most (55%; n = 11) employed a qualitative design. Descriptions, methods, and scope of PD application varied across included studies. A lack of empirical evaluations prevented conclusions regarding the utility of PD application in terms of measured outcomes. The methodology, agent of change, training, and engagement (MATE) taxonomy was subsequently developed to describe and classify PD application. As illustrated in the MATE taxonomy, PD methods promoting agency, encouraging input, and facilitating empowerment are likely to facilitate more meaningful engagement of participants. Integration of participant and expert views, community consultation, and appropriate socio-cultural adaption appear to be critical determinants of program acceptability and feasibility. Empirical evaluations are needed to assess the relative utility of PD methods in line with SVA prevention objectives.

Increasing Seasonal Influenza Vaccination among University Students: A Systematic Review of Programs Using a Social Marketing Perspective

“…One or more target audiences should be ‘at the heart’ of a social marketing program and they should be actively involved in the program design and implementation to facilitate engagement, which is needed for behavior change to occur [ 56 ]. According to the MATE taxonomy [ 37 ], participant engagement is categorized along a low–medium–high continuum based on three factors: (i) agency, (ii) input, and (iii) empowerment. Low levels of consumer orientation are evident when methods requiring a low level of user involvement are used in research activities informing program design (e.g., surveys and interviews).…”

“… 1 Behavioral change was measured by changes in flu vaccination rate against baseline and/or control group. 2 Level of consumer orientation accessed according to the MATE taxonomy [ 37 ]. 3 Flu vaccination programs that were targeted at healthcare students.…”

“…A study demonstrates consumer orientation when it has applied any form of research to understand how people think, feel, and behave. Willmott et al [ 37 ] proposed the MATE taxonomy to assess the extent to which people are involved in program design, development, and implementation. The MATE taxonomy categorizes the engagement of participants in program design along a low–medium–high continuum.…”

“…Insight exists when a clear understanding of what people are asking for emerges. Clear and actionable insights are usually devised from a higher level of consumer orientation [ 37 ]. A succinct summary of insights can serve as the guiding strategy for a program.…”

Consumer partnerships in research (CPR) checklist: A method for conducting market research with vulnerable consumers

“…3 (Willmott et al, 2022b), and a majority of vulnerable consumer research is conducted by able-bodied, usually Caucasian researchers who have received similar research training (Goopy and Kassan, 2019). For instance, Cowan et al (2022) examines the problematic nature of highly educated scientists who have a particular and partial view of the world and are charged with constructing dominant knowledge.…”