What is it about?
Children and young people, particularly those living with life-limiting conditions, are often under-represented in health research despite having valuable experiences and perspectives to share. This article explores how creative and participatory research methods can help children and young people engage meaningfully in research. Drawing on experiences from studies involving young people with life-limiting conditions, it describes approaches such as creative activities, digital engagement, visual methods and interactive discussions that enable children and young people to contribute in ways that match their preferences, abilities and stages of development.
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Why is it important?
Health research is stronger when it reflects the experiences and priorities of the people it is designed to benefit. However, children and young people are often excluded from research because they are perceived as vulnerable or because traditional research methods can be difficult for them to engage with. Creative and participatory approaches can reduce barriers to involvement, support self-expression and ensure that children’s voices are represented in the evidence that informs healthcare policy and practice. Including children and young people more effectively also helps researchers design studies that are more relevant, accessible and meaningful.
Perspectives
Engaging children and young people in research requires more than selecting appropriate data collection tools. It depends on building trust, developing relationships and creating opportunities for meaningful partnership throughout the research process. Creative methods can help children and young people communicate experiences and perspectives that might otherwise remain unheard, particularly when discussing sensitive or complex topics. The article argues that researchers should move beyond simply studying children and young people and instead work alongside them as contributors, advisors and partners in knowledge creation, helping to ensure that research reflects their lives, needs and priorities.
Prof Michael J Tatterton
University of Bradford
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Using creative methods of engagement to facilitate the inclusion of children and young people with diverse needs in research, Evidence-Based Nursing, August 2024, BMJ,
DOI: 10.1136/ebnurs-2024-104161.
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