Community-driven research: Exploring the potential of citizen science in nursing

Citizen science, part of participatory science, emerged in the mid-1990s and involves volunteer non-professional scientists in developing and conducting research. The direct involvement of citizens can improve research outcomes, increase trust in science, and ensure that research and innovation align with societal values, expectations, and needs. Patients' and caregivers' participation in research can significantly enhance treatment adherence, self-care skills, adaptation to new living conditions, conscious use of healthcare systems, and reduction of side effects. In this article, we explore the concept of Citizen Science as applied to the nursing field and serves as an informed guide for nurses who wish to test or adopt this new approach to research: we summarize different types of citizen science approaches, define key principles for good practice, and outline the characteristics that a Citizen Science research project should have. We also illustrate how Citizen Science approaches can be incorporated into nursing research and highlight important factors to consider to ensure the effectiveness, reliability, and inclusiveness of Citizen Science projects.

The implementation of this methodology offers new perspectives to help nurses lead and contribute to initiatives that generate meaningful evidence and promote a collaborative, patient-centered approach to healthcare research. Introducing this community-driven research approach to nursing research could help create and guarantee value-based healthcare because of the intervention of patients' and caregivers' opinions and outcomes. It has the potential to make a significant contribution to the field of nursing by involving patients in research areas as co-authors and designers of research projects.