Evaluating co-design processes used in the development of healthcare interventions in residential aged care: a scoping review

Abstract Background Co-design is increasingly used in residential aged care research. However, there is limited literature on how these co-design processes are evaluated, particularly in the absence of co-design evaluation frameworks developed specifically for this setting. We examined how co-design processes used with residents and informal carers to develop healthcare interventions in residential aged care are evaluated. Methods Six electronic databases were searched, and 4594 studies reporting co-design of healthcare interventions with older adults and/or informal carers in residential aged care were screened. Data extraction included study characteristics and co-design evaluation practices. Results Of 22 included studies, six evaluated their co-design process. Narrative reflection was the most common approach (n = 4). Evaluation was predominantly retrospective and based on researchers’ reflections, drawing on data collected during the process. No studies used pre-defined evaluation criteria to measure the impact or effectiveness of the co-design process, or if the process meaningfully involved residents or their informal carers. Conclusion Co-design is increasingly used in residential aged care research, although evaluation of these processes is uncommon. As a result, little is known about how effectively co-design is being applied in this setting, or whether it is achieving its core aim of meaningfully involving end-users in research.