Background: There is increasing interest in incorporating co-production in systematic reviews. However, there has been a lack of a unifying definition of co-production and the absence of a single definition can lead to ‘conceptual stretching’ and even misuse of the term. Rather than focus on a single definition, in this workshop, we consider the values that underpin co-production, including being human, inclusive, transparent and challenging, and how they can be enacted within evidence synthesis.
Objectives: Participants will:
• Learn about the values that underpin co-production.
• Consider how co-production can be integrated within the development of a systematic review.
• Consider how the values that underpin co-production can be operationalised within their own evidence syntheses and systematic reviews.
Description: Co-production requires a substantial shift in the way in which systematic reviews are produced, from conceptualisation to dissemination. This workshop will introduce participants to the values of co-production and how these can be used to inform the design and implementation of co-production within different types of systematic review (15 min). In groups, participants will have an opportunity to consider how the values of co-production can be implemented through considering different scenarios and case studies (30 min and 15 min feedback). In a final group discussion, participants will be invited to consider how the values of co-production can be enacted in their own evidence synthesis projects (20 min and 10 min summary). Throughout, the facilitators will also reflect on their own learning from implementing co-production in evidence synthesis, the emotions and ‘feels’ experienced as part of the process and the value that co-production brought, as well as sharing insight of what they would do differently in future. Relevance and importance to patients and the public: Whereas co-producing evidence presents a challenge to conventional ways of producing evidence in academic environments, it can also lead to evidence that is responsive to the needs of the public, patients and policymakers. Co-production can deliver evidence that actually matters to people and builds capacity and empowers individuals and communities whose voices have historically been marginalised.