a collaborative approach in which professionals and end-users (such as patients, service users, or community members) work together as equal partners to design, deliver, and evaluate services, policies, or research. It emphasizes shared decision-making, mutual respect, and valuing each partner’s expertise—academic, clinical, and lived experience alike.
Synonyms: Co-creation, Joint Production
Example
In health research, a team developing a new patient-reported outcome measure uses co-production by involving patients with lived experience, clinicians, and researchers from the outset. Together they decide which domains to measure, how to word survey questions, and how to interpret results—ensuring the final tool reflects both scientific standards and patient priorities.