A new framework for utilising participatory methods Introduction

The authors emphasize the growing need for personalized prevention strategies targeting children and adolescents, as risk factors for NCDs like obesity and low fitness often originate early in life. To design impactful interventions, the development process should actively involve the people who will use these solutions. The SmartCHANGE project introduced a novel co-design framework to address this need by bringing together diverse stakeholders and cultures across multiple countries.

The framework builds on Participatory Action Research principles, focusing on collaboration and iteration. It consists of four phases:

1. Build partnership – Establish trust, map expectations, and support active engagement, particularly of adolescents, through preparatory workshops.
2. Explore – Use creative methods such as Photovoice and peer interviews to uncover real-life challenges and daily routines affecting health.
3. Define – Co-create definitions of key problems by synthesizing insights into clear, shared problem statements.
4. Develop – Generate and refine solutions collaboratively, considering user needs and practical constraints.

These phases are iterative, enabling insights from later stages to reshape earlier decisions. Examples, such as Finnish adolescents reporting social media anxiety and school nurses identifying motivational barriers, demonstrate how participatory methods capture authentic perspectives often overlooked in top-down design.

The authors note that participatory approaches require time and flexibility but result in interventions that are contextually grounded and widely accepted. For professionals in health promotion, app development, and user-centered design, the framework offers actionable guidance on creating engaging and effective digital tools.

This article is particularly relevant for experts in health technology, healthcare, behavioral research, and policy-making who seek to integrate participatory methods into innovation processes. Estimated reading time: 5–7 minutes.

The article is published in Jamk Arena Pro, a professional online magazine by Jamk University of Applied Sciences, and is part of the EU Horizon-funded SmartCHANGE project.