The Development of C-CARE - an Arts-Based, Co-Produced Research Methodology for Understanding and Addressing Inequalities in Healthcare

Both co-production methods and arts-based methods are now increasingly used in healthcare research, particularly to understand the experiences and views of people and communities marginalised or underserved in healthcare services. Healthcare staff and researchers often look to use these approaches when seeking to explore health inequalities in a public health context. Yet, both co-production and arts-based methods can lack structure and consistency of application and sometimes fail to maximise impact in the field. This paper presents the development of a cohesive five-stage methodology that integrates co-production and arts-based research methods into a broader approach which includes community engagement, inclusive research practice and education: - the C-CARE methodology. C-CARE was conceptualised through the development of an inclusive approach to Advance Care Planning (ACP) - the ‘No Barriers Here’ project, within a public health palliative care context. We describe how the evolution of ‘No Barriers Here’ as an ACP intervention supported the development of the C-CARE methodology, which now underpins our work. The methodology has potential for use outside a palliative care field to understand and address a wider range of health inequalities in a public health context.