CO-CREATION WORKSHOPS IN THE UNIFIED HEALTH SYSTEM

WHERE TO START?

Abstract

Citizen science promotes the active participation of society in the production of scientific knowledge, with co-creation being one of its most collaborative practices, enabling co-production between researchers and social actors. The objective of this methodological study is to propose the development of a protocol for co-creation workshops applicable to citizen science projects. The methodological procedures involved a literature review in the Scopus database, aiming to identify studies with guidelines and methodologies applicable to the modeling of these workshops in the healthcare field. The methodological procedures comprised a literature search in Scopus, the application of explicit eligibility criteria, data extraction into an analytical matrix, and a comparative synthesis of the studies. The analysis systematized recurring elements and minimum requirements while preserving adaptability to different contexts within the Brazilian Unified Health System. The results revealed five main patterns in the literature: structuring in stages, equitable engagement of participants, adaptation to contextual realities, the central role of facilitation, and systematic data recording. Based on these elements, a practical protocol was developed. Based on these elements, a preliminary literature-based protocol was developed, containing a checklist and guidelines for the planning, preparation, facilitation, data collection, prototyping, and evaluation phases. The proposal seeks to support social engagement and evidence production in participatory public health contexts. Its clarity, relevance, feasibility, and applicability should still be examined with experts and potential users and through pilot workshops on Health Technology Assessment within the Brazilian Unified Health System.