Table 1. . Contexts, processes and outcomes for planning, evaluating and reporting stakeholder engagement.

Topic	Subtopic	Planning stakeholder-engaged research and research on stakeholder engagement	Minimum reporting (stakeholder-engaged research)	Comprehensive reporting (research on stakeholder engagement)
1. Contexts†
Resources available	Funding, time, expertise of researchers and stakeholders, training for researchers and stakeholders	X		X
Attitudes and expectations	Commitment to and attitudes toward engagement from researchers and stakeholders	X		X
Desired input from stakeholders	Values, knowledge and experience sought	X	X	X
Desired goals of engagement	Decisions to be deliberated with stakeholders and goals of engagement	X	X	X
2. Processes†
Stakeholder recruitment	Identification and outreach to potential stakeholders; recruitment rate	X	X	X
Stakeholder composition	Diversity, composition	X	X	X
Setting expectations	How expectations were communicated; introductions; stakeholder understanding of roles and expectations; agenda-setting for specific meetings; establishment of reciprocal relationships; establishment of power sharing	X		X
Decision making	Structured decision making, use of appropriate quantitative/qualitative methods, use of facilitators; stakeholder experience of decision making	X		X
Frequency and duration of engagement	Timing, duration, method, frequency, flexibility and methods of interactions Options for stakeholder-initiated interaction Ongoing/sustained engagement vs more limited engagement	X	X	X
Representativeness	Balanced representation and participation Group decision making	X		X
Co-learning	Two-way sharing of information and background to allow meaningful contribution and conversation; use of written or visual materials; avoiding jargon	X		X
Valuing stakeholder contribution	Thoughtful and transparent requests for time commitment; financial compensation	X		X
Transparency	Transparent engagement processes and rationale Feedback given to stakeholders about their input and impact Final products for dissemination shared	X		X
3. Outcomes
Immediate outcomes:‡		X
– Changes in project scope	Defining/prioritizing topic, question, hypotheses, intervention, outcomes to be measured		X	X
– Changes in project methods	Design, methods, recruitment, data collection		X	X
– Changes in interpretation	Analysis, interpretation, synthesis; anticipating alternative interpretation or controversy		X	X
– Changes in dissemination plans	Content and method of distribution		X	X
– Changes in future directions	Follow-up projects, collaborations, funding		X	X
– Changes in future engagement	Researcher knowledge, capacity, commitment to engagement; Continued/new stakeholder involvement		X	X
– Stakeholder satisfaction	Satisfaction, continued involvement			X
Intermediate outcomes:‡		X		X
– Value of evidence generated	Quality, applicability, alignment with stakeholder priorities, alignment with stakeholder decision making			§
– Efficiency of research efforts	Improved recruitment, retention, inclusivity. Improved data collection procedures. Timeliness of publication and dissemination			§
– Uptake of research	Improved translation, dissemination and uptake, potentially through increased perceived legitimacy/accountability; increased relevance/quality and/or increased attention to dissemination activities			§
– Improved ethics of research	Design/process more appropriate, inclusive, sensitive and ethical			§
– Empowerment of patients/stakeholders	Stakeholder participant attitudes or actions suggesting increased engagement and efficacy with research and/or healthcare system			§
Creation/sustaining of partnerships	Creating and maintaining partnerships with stakeholders, facilitating stakeholder engagement in ongoing/future work			§
Long-term outcomes:‡		X		X
– Improved patient decision making	Improvement in ability of data to answer questions informing patient's decisions			§
– Improved clinical/health policy decision making	Improvement in ability of data to answer questions informing clinician or policy-maker's decisions			§
– Improved health outcomes	Improvement in patient-centered health outcomes			§
– Improved culture of research	Improved accountability, inclusivity, trust, ethics			§

^†When relevant, consider distinguishing between planned and actual contexts, processes and outcomes, particularly for research on stakeholder engagement.

^‡Planning efforts for both stakeholder-engaged research and research on stakeholder engagement should consider the evaluation of immediate, intermediate and long-term outcomes, even if not all are evaluated.

^§In research on stakeholder engagement, not every intermediate and long-term outcome will be assessed, but the full range of outcomes should be considered for assessment. We recommend acknowledging missing outcomes or groups of outcomes to increase transparency and interpretability.

X: Indicates topic/subtopic relevant to the specified level of planning or reporting stakeholder engagement.