Background/Aims:
In a pilot co-design project, lived experience was integrated into the joint Australian & New Zealand Stroke Organisation and Smart Strokes conference, Stroke 2023, in Melbourne. Our aim is to describe the participation and evaluation outcomes.
Methods:
Stroke Foundation, with funding from Bellberry Limited, coordinated a working group of lived experts (n=5), researchers (n=3) and Stroke Foundation staff (n=4) to co-design accessible lived experience sessions.
The sessions aimed to promote collaboration and increase knowledge and confidence in co-design. Support staff assisted. Evaluation included attendance rates, pre and post surveys.
Results:
A one-day program was coordinated, comprising sessions dedicated to lived experience delegates (skills workshop), and sessions for both lived experience and academic/clinical delegates (co-design workshop, abstract presentation sessions). Presenters comprised six survivors and 10 researchers/clinicians.
Nineteen survivors of stroke and six carers received scholarships to attend (from 159 applicants). Forty individuals joined co-design workshops online. Seventy-one researchers/clinicians attended the co-design workshop and 76 attended the abstract presentation sessions.
Twenty-two lived experience delegates completed a pre-survey and 13 a post-survey. Fourteen researchers/clinicians completed a post-survey. Among delegates with lived experience, knowledge about research and co-design principles increased from 41% to 85% and confidence in co-design increased from 54% to 92%. Researchers/clinicians reported having good knowledge of co-design and this helped direct their research (50% strongly agree; 43% agree; 7% neutral).
Conclusion:
Lived experience sessions at Stroke 2023 were well attended. We have demonstrated conferences can incorporate lived experience which has promoted collaboration and increased confidence and knowledge of delegates.