Acknowledgements Many thanks to Cynthia Fraser, Information Specialist (Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen), for leading the design and conduct of the literature searches, document retrieval and reference management. The Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen is core funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government's Health and Social Care Directorates. The authors accept full responsibility for this paper. Funding This research was funded by The Health Foundation (Project reference 7209). ; Peer reviewed ; Publisher PDF
Background The Aberdeen Children of the 1950s (ACONF) cohort contains 12,150 individuals born in Aberdeen, Scotland in the 1950s. The study includes rich early life data, information from questionnaire in middle age, and linkage to electronic healthcare records.
Involving the participants in designing future data collection and research is key to ensure research is acceptable and reflects public priorities.
Aim To gather ACONF participants' views to inform how to: define healthy ageing, optimise recruitment and maximise participation.
Method We undertook three co-design workshops with 8 to 10 ACONF members. The workshops operated as a discussion, led by a facilitator using guidance questions developed by the study team. Workshops were recorded and transcribed.
Results Healthy ageing: Participants viewed healthy ageing as keeping socially and physically active, taking responsibility for oneself and having a positive attitude to ageing. Key research priorities were: dementia, healthy living advice, improvements in the social care system and engaging hard-to-reach groups.
Optimising recruitment and participation: Participants were keen for further involvement in research. Recruitment may be maximised by: more information online, involving participants in recruitment of other study members and clarity about potential benefits to themselves or others. It is acceptable to ask their offspring to participate.
There were high levels of trust in researchers, but ongoing data protection is vital. Participation may be improved by regular contact (informing participants of results, engagement events, newsletters, mobile phone "apps").
Participants were happy with data collection methods: questionnaires, applications, wearable devices, and in-person tests. They raised no concerns regarding DNA collection and electronic record linkage.
Conclusion Participant involvement in research is a fundamental part of securing a social license for research. Participants were in favour of ongoing research, including recruitment of their children and linkage of electronic records. The workshops highlighted key considerations for future research and data collection.
Acknowledgements We thank the REBALANCE Advisory Group for all their advice and support during this project: Margaret Watson, Lorna Van Lierop, Richard Clarke, Jennifer Logue, Laura Stewart, Richard Welbourn, Jamie Blackshaw, Su Sethi. +Current address HealthLumen, London. The REBALANCE team Elisabet Jacobsen1, Dwayne Boyers1, David Cooper3, Lise Retat2, Paul Aveyard4, Fiona Stewart3, Graeme MacLennan3, Laura Webber2, Emily Corbould2, Benshuai Xu2, Abbygail Jaccard2, Bonnie Boyle3, Eilidh Duncan3, Michal Shimonovich3, Cynthia Fraser3, Lara Kemp3, Clare Robertson3, Zoë Skea3, Marijn de Bruin6, Alison Avenell3 Funding The project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme (Project number: 15/09/04). See the HTA Programme website for further project information. The Health Economics and Health Services Research Units at the University of Aberdeen are core funded by the Chief Scientists Office (CSO) of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorate. Correction | Open Access | Published: 26 August 2021 Correction: Cost-effectiveness of bariatric surgery and non-surgical weight management programmes for adults with severe obesity: a decision analysis model. D. Boyers, L. Retat, E. Jacobsen, A. Avenell, P. Aveyard, E. Corbould, A. Jaccard, D. Cooper, C. Robertson, M. Aceves-Martins, B. Xu, Z. Skea, M. de Bruin & and the REBALANCE team. International Journal of Obesity (2021) The Original Article was published on 04 June 2021 Correction to: International Journal of Obesity https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-021-00849-8 ; Peer reviewed ; Publisher PDF
