Methods for co‐designing health innovations with older adults: A rapid review
Lori Gagnon, Samuel Turcotte, Roxane DeBroux‐Leduc, Philippe Gauthier, Nathalie Bier · Australasian Journal on Ageing · 2025
OBJECTIVE: This paper reviews the methods used in research for co-designing health innovations with and for older adults. METHODS: A rapid review was performed following the Cochrane Rapid Review Methods Group recommendations and reported using the PRISMA statement. A keyword search was conducted in CINAHL, PsychINFO and Medline databases. RESULTS: Selection criteria yielded 13 peer-reviewed articles that reported on a total of 33 different co-design activities. Discussions and individual interviews were the most frequently reported activities in the selected articles and were used at each stage of the co-design process. CONCLUSION: To avoid the appearance of tokenism and to promote transparency, researchers need to provide more details about the involvement of older adults in the co-design process and the co-design activities performed. Health and design scientists should strive towards a meaningful involvement of older adults throughout the co-designing process and need to develop knowledge about the added value of co-design to support the use of such methods.