Co-production at the margins?

Introduction: Qualitative researchers are well placed to do co-production research, given its emphasis on more inclusive, empowering and equitable ways of working. Creative practices are often used in co-production to develop more emphatic and democratising methods that place a high value on the experiences and knowledge of research participants. However, less is known about whether this is effective or relevant for vulnerable or marginalised populations particularly in health research.

Goals: our research project is focussed on developing inclusive methods that listen to marginalised young people in the UK whilst examining the different co-production approaches that other researchers have used to reach and engage young people.

Methods: Firstly we draw on a) a systematic scoping review that sought to describe and analyse the ways in which other research conceptualises and employs methods of co-production with marginalised young people experiencing mental health difficulties; alongside b) ethnographic observations and 6 participatory and creative workshops with a group of four young men in a community setting in a deprived urban area of the UK. Ethnographic data (recordings and field notes) were analysed reflexively and thematically. 

Results/findings: Our findings offer valuable insights into the daily experiences of young people who are socially and economically marginalised, while also recognising the significant challenges involved in co-creating knowledge with those on the margins. Concurrently we explore from our scoping review the insufficient conceptualisations and theorisation of co-production methods, despite its popularity. 

Conclusion: we discuss the future need for further and sustained evaluation of the involvement of marginalised young people in participatory co-produced research, and the potential impacts of this on knowledge production and health equity.