A project led by Dr Tessa-May Zirnsak is challenging traditional research approaches by demonstrating the benefits of involving people with lived experience.
“Academic guidelines for research methods can sometimes replicate existing power dynamics, prioritising research knowledge over lived experience perspectives,” Dr Zirnsak explains. “As a result, it’s unusual to include lived experience experts in systematic reviews.”
To explore this, the researchers reflected on their experience co-designing a systematic review on the usefulness of healthcare resources with lived experience experts.
Dr Zirnsak says the reflection highlights the importance of power-sharing, reflexivity and strong interpersonal skills in co-design research.
“The co-design group ensured the review focused on whether resources were genuinely useful for the people they were designed to support, which strengthened the rigour of the study.”
“Researchers who want to engage with people with lived experience must remain flexible in how decisions are made to ensure lived experience involvement is meaningful and transparent,” she adds.
The next step will involve conversations with other researchers about including lived experience experts across all types of research.
