Co-creating an intervention to promote physical activity in adolescents with intellectual disabilities: lessons learned within the Move it, Move ID!-project

Maenhout, L., Verloigne, M., Cairns, D. , Cardon, G., Crombez, G., Melville, C. , Van Hove, G. and Compernolle, S. (2023) Co-creating an intervention to promote physical activity in adolescents with intellectual disabilities: lessons learned within the Move it, Move ID!-project. Research Involvement and Engagement, 9, 10. (doi: 10.1186/s40900-023-00420-x) (PMID:36935503) (PMCID:PMC10024913)

Abstract

Background: Co-creation is a method to develop acceptable, contextually appropriate and potentially more effective interventions. Adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID) seldomly participate in research and program development due to the assumption that they lack the capacity to understand and discuss the related topics. Objective: This study describes reflections on a co-creation process with adolescents with ID from the point of view of the researchers in developing an intervention to increase physical activity. It was the aim to highlight elements that must be considered when implementing co-creation and consequently formulate important lessons learned. Methods: Twenty-three adolescents (14–22 y) with mild to moderate ID participated in six co-creation sessions at their school. The objectives and working methods in each session are described. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted on the researchers' reflection forms, which were completed after each session. Results: Seven main themes could be distinguished from the data: experiences related to assistance (i.e., teacher presence) during sessions, the importance of building rapport, co-decision making power, the impact of different group dynamics, the relevance of adapted questioning, the influence of co-creative working methods and required characteristics of a co-creation researcher. Conclusion: Seven lessons learned were formulated when preparing and conducting co-creation with adolescents with ID. Innovative, concrete (non-abstract) and creative working methods are highly needed. Describing the entire process transparently could be a first step to turn co-creative research into an evidence-based methodology.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This study was supported by funding from Research Foundation Flanders [Grant Number 11F3621N, 2020–2024].
• Keywords: Co-creation, intervention, physical activity, adolescents, intellectual disabilities, patient and public involvement.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cairns, Professor Deborah and Melville, Professor Craig
• Authors: Maenhout, L., Verloigne, M., Cairns, D., Cardon, G., Crombez, G., Melville, C., Van Hove, G., and Compernolle, S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Research Involvement and Engagement
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• ISSN: 2056-7529
• ISSN (Online): 2056-7529
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Research Involvement and Engagement 9: 10
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License