A square peg in a round hole: reflecting on using a participatory health research approach during my PhD

When reflecting on my years as a doctoral student, I recall several questions that often came to mind throughout my journey: what is participatory health research? Is such an approach to research truly feasible in the pursuit of a doctoral degree? Is it worth it, or have I inadvertently made things more challenging for myself? My response to these questions has evolved dramatically alongside my growth and development throughout my PhD. I was presented with an opportunity to explore an approach to participatory health research firsthand; a process which included many jumps, twists, turns, and slides, and at times, left me feeling like a square peg in a round hole. Throughout this process, navigating the breadth of challenges and opportunities presented along the way, I also learned the importance of one’s narrative – in particular, the growth and development made possible when researchers and participatory partners share our stories and reflect together. This paper is part of my story, through my account of ‘our story’. It embraces a narrative-style approach to critical reflection of the participatory process throughout my doctoral studies, emphasising the key challenges posed when working within the boundaries of traditional academic structures. I provide a reflexive account of how these challenges were navigated, which created a range of opportunities at both a theoretical and practical level. I conclude with a response to these initial questions and a hopeful call for change.