Co-producing knowledge in health and social care research: reflections on the challenges and ways to enable more equal relationships

Abstract Researchers are increasingly encouraged to co-produce research, involving members of the public, service users, policy makers and practitioners in more equal relationships throughout a research project. The sharing power is often highlighted as key principle when co-producing research. However, health social care with many other academic disciplines, carried out within embedded hierarchies structural inequalities universities, public institutions, funding systems—as well society broadly. This poses significant challenges ambitions for co-production. article explores difficulties that faced trying put ideal co-production principles into practice. A reflective account provided an interdisciplinary project aimed better understand how reduce differentials co-produced facilitated five workshops, researchers from different health, community development staff contributors, who all had experience In people discussed they attempted enable shared ideas supported effective equitable Shared learning helped team iteratively develop training course, map resources questions support gap between practice challenging. examines constraints exist share power, informed by multidisciplinary theories power. To bring practice, changes needed practices, cultures structures; understandings what knowledge forms valued. outlines tensions describes potential may help We highlight maintain real-world uneven distribution constant challenge, remaining now realm aspiration.