Table 7 Overarching outcomes and impacts

Researchers have experienced increased ‘capacity, knowledge and skills’ related to planning, conducting and disseminating research in partnership with stakeholders; this may include a better understanding of the area under study and/or an increased awareness of community issues

Outcomes and impacts on researchers conducting partnership research (individual level)

Researchers have experienced ‘personal benefits’ from working in a research partnership such as enhanced motivation for the research project and/or lightening of the workload

Researchers have experienced ‘personal challenges’ when working in a research partnership such as uncomfortable feelings when sharing power over the research and/or the additional time and financial burden associated with the research partnership

Stakeholders have experienced increased ‘capacity, knowledge and skills’ related to research processes; this may include a better understanding of the area under study and/or an increased awareness to the application of the research

Outcomes and impacts on stakeholders involved in research partnerships (individual level)

Stakeholders have experienced a more ‘positive attitude’ towards research and researchers

Stakeholders have reported better access to information relevant for them such as information on treatments or management of specific diseases or illnesses

Stakeholders have experienced ‘personal benefits’ from working in a research partnership; examples include, but are not limited to, feeling empowered, feeling valued, increased confidence, increased sense of accomplishment, extended social and support network, and/or increased chances on future employment

Stakeholders have experienced ‘personal challenges’ when working in a research partnership, such as feelings of not being listened to, not being empowered, not being taken seriously, frustrated and/or dissatisfied about the research processes

Stakeholders have experienced ‘feeling overburdened’ by tasks and responsibilities

Partners have reported that the research partnership can ‘have positive outcomes/impacts on the relationship’ between researchers and stakeholders; examples include, but are not limited to, greater partnership synergy, mutual respect, mutual understanding of work style, language, needs and constraints, and/or can create sustainable collaborations

Partners have reported that the research partnership may result in ‘conflicts’ between researchers and stakeholders

Outcomes and impacts on the relationship between researchers and stakeholders (partnership level)

Partners have reported that the research partnership can ‘create system changes or action’ by influencing policy-making, improving community services, improving health-related outcomes for community, and/or creating capacity to sustain the projects

Outcomes and impacts on the community or society

Partners have reported that the research partnership can ‘increase capacity’ in the community by creating better understanding of research in the community and/or increased awareness and knowledge of the study topic

Partners have reported that the research partnership can increase ‘community empowerment’

Partners have reported that the research partnership can ‘create community ownership’ of the research

Partners have reported that the research partnership can increase the ‘acceptability and trust of the research’ in the community

Partners have reported that research partnership may create ‘challenging outcomes or impacts on the community’ such as increased time and financial burden on the community organisations, further stigmatisation of the group and/or negative research findings

Partners have reported that the research partnership can create ‘relevant and useful research findings’

Outcomes and impacts on the research process

Partners have reported that the research partnership can create ‘high quality research’ by generating credible and valid data, developing effective interventions, and/or unearthing new information; the partnership can also general new and other projects

Partners have reported that the research partnership can create ‘increased capacity’ to conduct and disseminate the research

Partners have reported that the research partnership may lead to negative outcomes or impacts, including biased data or tokenism