Popp J, Carl J, Grüne E, Pfeifer K. Introducing the Practice Dive Approach: an extension of co-creation in physical activity promotion and health promotion.
Health Promot Int 2021;
36:ii53-ii64. [PMID:
34905611 PMCID:
PMC8672929 DOI:
10.1093/heapro/daab160]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, there has been increasing interest in co-creation utilized for physical
activity (PA) promotion and health promotion. Co-creation involves researchers
and non-academic stakeholders conjointly developing and implementing
interventions. In addition to the frequently reported benefits of co-creation,
critical voices highlight the associated challenges (e.g. different interests
that inhibit interaction). So far, research has not identified concrete
solutions to these challenges and the limitations of co-creation. This article
aims to introduce the Practice Dive Approach as a potential way to strengthen
cooperation between researchers and non-academic stakeholders. We build on
real-life experiences from a German research project, in which researchers moved
into practice to familiarize themselves with the settings and end-users. After
conducting a literature search on related concepts in PA/health promotion, we
developed a comprehensive approach to fostering multi-sectoral cooperation. The
introduced Practice Dive Approach assumes that a significant contribution to
better cooperation among co-creators is the temporal immersion of researchers in
their setting of interest, which has the potential to improve the success of
co-creation in the PA/health promotion field. A four-level typology
characterizes the intensity of researcher interactions with the setting and the
non-academic stakeholders. Potential beneficial effects for both researchers and
non-academic stakeholders can be hypothesized (e.g. familiarity with the setting
structures and increased understanding of the end-users), while simultaneously,
some challenges need to be considered. Future research should aim to validate
the concept and its postulated effects.
Collaboration among researchers and non-academic stakeholders is increasingly
used to promote physical activity and health. For example, people involved in
such collaborations jointly develop new interventions. Potential challenges
include different interests or work routines that can complicate cooperation.
This article aims to introduce the Practice Dive Approach as a potential way to
improve cooperation between researchers and non-academic stakeholders. We
developed the approach based on observations from a German research project and
a literature search on related concepts. This approach assumes that the temporal
involvement of researchers in their setting of interest can strengthen
research-practice cooperation and improve its success. We describe different
types of a Practice Dive and the requirements for conducting Practice Dive
activities. Furthermore, we present the potential effects of a Practice Dive for
the researchers and the non-academic stakeholders, such as increased familiarity
between both groups. However, some challenges need to be considered when
applying the Practice Dive Approach. Future research should test this approach
and its potential effects.
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