Table 1 Examples of goals, successes and challenges in engaging with MSM communities

• Better designed and implemented studies (questions, ways of working, benefits, CE)

• Include diverse representatives of key populations in a range of interactions in designing studies, how they are implemented and feedback

• Community representative groups such as CABs/Gs may be considered as a key channel of engagement

• Ensure all research team members and CE partners understand the research and CE goals, limits and messages

• If/how to engage those who choose not to be identified? Risk failing to engage with those who do not feel represented by self-proclaimed ‘representatives’

• Potential to breach confidentiality and exacerbating risk in interactions with representatives

• Should CAB/Gs include non-MSM representatives? If not, should separate CAB/Gs be established to engage with other community members? (Table 2)

• Improved health and well-being for MSM • Improved health and well-being for general communities

As above and

• Provide evidence to support MSM-friendly policy change

• Providing MSM-specific access to healthcare with MSM friendly staff

• Where possible, provide services to a wider range of community members than currently access services, and do not make access to such services dependent on research participation

• Lobby (through networks) for health policy change to support improved health and well-being for MSM as important part of general community

• Link with LGBT organisations to refer to services beyond medical research and care

As above and

• Key messages about health research involving MSM not carefully worded and understood by all research team members can be stigmatising for MSM

• Activities can contribute to MSM discrimination by targeting MSM communities as specific beneficiaries of interventions that many others would appreciate; such activities also separate and make more visible MSM from other community members

• Activities may be interpreted as promotion of homosexuality, exacerbating MSM discrimination

• Advocating for legal changes

• Empowerment of MSM individuals and communities

As above and

• Lobby for specific health and social rights of MSM

• Hire LGBT staff

• Provide training about LGBT issues to all staff and healthcare providers

As above and

• Failure to act may result in tokenistic research agendas and contribute to structural violence

• May need to operate covertly to ensure safety of participants and operations