Working together: experiences of people with aphasia as co-researchers in participatory health research studies.

<bold>Background:</bold> People with aphasia have been engaging with research in a variety of ways. There are few descriptions of how they are involved in participatory research methodologies and even fewer reports describe their perspective on participating as co-researchers. <bold>Aims:</bold> To explore the experiences and reflections of two people with aphasia, BG and MG, on being involved in participatory research studies as co-researchers – the Conversation Partner Programme Evaluation Project and the Friendship and Aphasia Project. <bold>Methods:</bold> Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two people with aphasia about their experiences of engaging in participatory research as co-researchers. Data were analysed thematically. <bold>Outcomes & Results:</bold> Retrospective reflection by MG and BG resulted in five interlinked themes: Involvement in participatory research processes: <italic>“More than a guinea pig”</italic> Group process: <italic>“It’s us not them … completely different”</italic> Flexibility and creativity: new ways to co-generate and co-analyse data Personal transformations and transformative actions arising from the research: “<italic>The tortoise wants to be like the hare again”</italic> Enhancing quality and meaningfulness: “<italic>You get more things out of it for more people”</italic> Involvement in participatory research processes: <italic>“More than a guinea pig”</italic> Group process: <italic>“It’s us not them … completely different”</italic> Flexibility and creativity: new ways to co-generate and co-analyse dataPersonal transformations and transformative actions arising from the research: “<italic>The tortoise wants to be like the hare again”</italic> Enhancing quality and meaningfulness: “<italic>You get more things out of it for more people”</italic> <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Participatory research methodologies encourage and support non-traditional methods and boundary crossing relationships between academic researchers and people with aphasia. MG and BG’s reflections and recommendations suggest possibilities for enhancing collaboration and equality within our research practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]