Engaging adolescents in chronic disease prevention research: insights from researchers about establishing and facilitating a youth advisory group.
Res Involv Engagem
; 10(1): 29, 2024 Feb 26.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38409196
ABSTRACT
Our comment discusses our experience establishing a youth advisory group focused on chronic disease prevention research. The comment highlights three key learnings the need for researchers to adapt their working style, the importance of redefining the power dynamics, and disrupting traditional research structures to align with co-researcher engagement models.
In this comment, we share our insights from working with a youth advisory group in adolescent health research. Our comment supports our research paper on co-designing an online health study, "Health4Me." The youth advisors worked with us for a year, during which we also studied leadership and other outcomes.Adolescent health is gaining worldwide attention. Health researchers see the value of working with young people on issues that affect them. To address this need, we formed the Health Advisory Panel for Youth at the University of Sydney. We motivated young people through building new skills and leadership training, rather than only focusing on improved health outcomes or health knowledge.Here are our key lessons as researchers Flexibility We changed our approach to support online teamwork with young people, offered payment and worked around their schedules. Changing power dynamics We empowered young people by engaging them in decisions and involved them in co-authoring papers and presentations. Challenging traditional structures To support youth- as co-researchers, we used existing sources of funding and offered mentoring. In conclusion, we highlight practical ways of working with a youth advisory group in health research. Our teamwork led to a youth digital health program, published essays, and future research ideas. It is important for researchers to actively involve and support young people in shaping research that affects them.
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MEDLINE
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En
Revista:
Res Involv Engagem
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
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Austrália