How can we promote co-creation in communities? The perspective of health promoting professionals in four European countries. Issue 4 (15th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Darlington, Emily Joan; Pearce, Gemma; Vilaça, Teresa; Masson, Julien; Bernard, Sandie; Anastácio, Zélia; Magee, Paul; Christensen, Frants; Hansen, Henriette; Carvalho, Graça S.
• Is Part Of: Health education. Volume 122:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 402
• Page End: 423
• Publication Date: 2021-11-15
• Subjects: Co-creation -- Health promotion -- Community development -- Competence -- Professionals -- Training; Health education -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 613.071
• DOI: 10.1108/HE-02-2021-0033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-4283

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The aim was to identify the competencies professionals need to promote co-creation engagement within communities. Design/methodology/approach: Co-creation could contribute to building community capacity to promote health. Professional development is key to support co-creative practices. Participants were professionals in a position to promote co-creation processes in health-promoting welfare settings across Denmark, Portugal, France and United Kingdom. An overarching unstructured topic guide was used within interviews, focus groups, questionnaires and creative activities. Findings: The need to develop competencies to promote co-creation was high across all countries. Creating a common understanding of co-creation and the processes involved to increase inclusivity, engagement and shared understanding was also necessary. Competencies included: How to run co-creation from the beginning of the process right through to evaluation, using feedback and communication throughout using an open action-oriented approach; initiating a perspective change and committing to the transformation of co-creation into a real-life process. Practical implications: Overall, learning about underlying principles, process initiation, implementation and facilitation of co-creation were areas identified to be included within a co-creation training programme. This can be applied through the framework of enabling change, advocating for co-creative processes, mediating through partnership, communication, leadership, assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation and research, ethical values and knowledge of co-creative processes. Originality/value: This study provides novel findings on the competencies needed for health promoting professionals to embed co-creative processes within their practice, and the key concerns that professionals with a position to mediate co-creation have in transferring the abstract term of co-creation into a real-world practice.