Evaluation of Co-Production in Adolescent Health Research: A Mixed Methods Study From Born in Bradford.

Abstract

Background: Co-production is often viewed as best practice for involving the public in research, while measures such as sharing power, reciprocity, and relationship-building are seen as key guiding principles. However, implementing co-production and its underlying principles remains challenging, with limited evaluative work examining how these principles are applied in practice, particularly within large-scale studies and with young people. This study aimed to explore whether Born in Bradford's (BiB) co-production values and principles have been embedded in BiB Age of Wonder (AoW), a longitudinal study following over 20,000 Bradford teenagers through secondary school and into early adulthood.

Methods: This evaluation used a mixed-methods approach. Participants included parents, young people, teachers, and community members. Quantitative data was collected via an online survey (n = 79). Qualitative data was collected via four focus groups (n = 17). The survey and focus group topic guide were co-designed with young people, with questions designed to assess how well the principles and values of BiB's co-production strategy had been embedded in AoW. Descriptive statistics were used to explore the survey responses. Qualitative data was analysed using framework analysis.

Results: Survey and focus group findings indicated that co-production group members mostly agreed or strongly agreed that the nine principles of co-production had been embedded in AoW. However, 'sharing power' and 'community engagement' were found to be areas that could be improved, with participants calling for earlier involvement in research design, clearer feedback loops, and outreach beyond existing groups.

Conclusions: We found evidence that the values and principles of co-production have been embedded in AoW co-production. Suggestions for improvement include shaping research agendas through earlier involvement, deeper engagement with schools and communities, and paid peer research posts. Future steps include (1) developing sustainable peer research strategies to deepen co-production, and (2) incorporating perspectives from diverse stakeholders including budget holders, facilitators, researchers and public contributors in future evaluations.

Patient or public contribution: Members of the public were involved in the study conceptualisation, methods development and implementation. The survey and focus group topic guide were co-designed with young people from BiB Age of Wonder co-production groups. Co-production group members were also involved as participants in the surveys and focus groups.