Establishing fundamental co-design principles and strategies for public health research practice

This study focuses on defining standard co-design principles and exploring strategies for their application in public health research. A secondary analysis was conducted, examining 55 studies sourced from a systematic review, employing directed content analysis to clarify co-design principles and their applications. The research followed Mayring’s model for deductive category application, resulting in the development and testing of eight standard co-design principles. Thirty principles and 34 definitions were condensed into eight standard co-design principles for health research: Inclusive, Participative, Equal, Supportive, Applicable, Iterative, Cooperative, and Transparent. Each principle was exemplified through various strategies. For instance, Inclusive recruitment methods were used, Participative approaches involved collaborative workshops, Equal discussions ensured participant views were considered in solutions, Supportive measures offered practical assistance, and Applicable strategies included usability testing. The iterative process featured ongoing feedback, while Cooperative governance structures were established, and Transparent communication of processes was maintained. The study contributes to a standardised understanding of co-design principles, which could facilitate comparisons of co-design efforts in public health across different contexts, ultimately promoting best practice.