Living lab approaches in rural healthcare: a scoping review

Rose Joyal, Fatoumata Korinka Tounkara, Diane N. Singhroy, Richard Fleet · 2026 · BMJ Open

Summary. Living labs use user-centered co-design to solve real-world healthcare problems in rural areas. This scoping review examined 11 studies from 2016–2025 across Canada, the USA, Australia, Guatemala, Uganda, and France/Portugal. Studies applied various methodologies including theory-driven frameworks, participatory research, and human-centered design to address cardiovascular disease, diabetes, perinatal care, and other conditions. Most studies did not explicitly use the living lab term, revealing limited adoption of this approach in rural healthcare innovation.

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@article{joyal-2026-living-lab-approaches-rural-healthcare,
  title   = {Living lab approaches in rural healthcare: a scoping review},
  author  = {Rose Joyal and Fatoumata Korinka Tounkara and Diane N. Singhroy and Richard Fleet},
  journal = {BMJ Open},
  year    = {2026},
  doi     = {10.1136/bmjopen-2025-107793},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-107793}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Living lab approaches in rural healthcare: a scoping review
AU  - Rose Joyal
AU  - Fatoumata Korinka Tounkara
AU  - Diane N. Singhroy
AU  - Richard Fleet
JO  - BMJ Open
PY  - 2026
DO  - 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-107793
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-107793
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.1136/bmjopen-2025-107793

Countries

Canada, United States, Australia, Guatemala, Uganda, France, Portugal

Regions

North America, Oceania, Central America, Africa, Europe

Categories

rural-healthcare, innovation-networks

Added

2026-04-28