BACKGROUND Stakeholder-engaged research is an umbrella term for the types of research that have community, patient, and/or stakeholder engagement, feedback, and bidirectional communication as approaches used in the research process. The level of stakeholder engagement across studies can vary greatly, from minimal engagement to fully collaborative partnerships. OBJECTIVES To present the process of reaching consensus among stakeholder and academic experts on the stakeholder engagement principles (EPs) and to identify definitions for each principle. METHODS We convened 19 national experts, 18 of whom remained engaged in a five-round Delphi process. The Delphi panel consisted of a broad range of stakeholders (e.g., patients, caregivers, advocacy groups, clinicians, researchers). We used web-based surveys for most rounds (1-3 and 5) and an in-person meeting for round 4. Panelists evaluated EP titles and definitions with a goal of reaching consensus (>80% agreement). Panelists' comments guided modifications, with greater weight given to non-academic stakeholder input. CONCLUSIONS EP titles and definitions were modified over five Delphi rounds. The panel reached consensus on eight EPs (dropping four, modifying four, and adding one) and corresponding definitions. The Delphi process allowed for a stakeholder-engaged approach to methodological research. Stakeholder engagement in research is time consuming and requires greater effort but may yield a better, more relevant outcome than more traditional scientist-only processes. This stakeholder-engaged process of reaching consensus on EPs and definitions provides a key initial step for the content validation of a survey tool to examine the level of stakeholder engagement in research studies.

中文翻译：

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就利益相关者参与研究的原则达成共识。

背景利益相关者参与的研究是研究类型的总称，这些研究将社区、患者和/或利益相关者参与、反馈和双向沟通作为研究过程中使用的方法。不同研究的利益相关者参与程度可能有很大差异，从最低限度的参与到完全合作的伙伴关系。目标 介绍利益相关者和学术专家就利益相关者参与原则 (EP) 达成共识的过程，并确定每项原则的定义。方法 我们召集了 19 位国家专家，其中 18 位仍然参与了五轮德尔菲过程。Delphi 小组由范围广泛的利益相关者（例如，患者、护理人员、宣传团体、临床医生、研究人员）组成。我们在大多数轮次（第 1-3 轮和第 5 轮）中使用了基于网络的调查，并在第 4 轮中使用了面对面的会议。小组成员评估了 EP 标题和定义，以达成共识（> 80% 一致）。小组成员的评论指导修改，更加重视非学术利益相关者的意见。结论 EP 标题和定义在 Delphi 的五轮中进行了修改。专家组就 8 个 EP（删除 4 个，修改 4 个，增加 1 个）和相应的定义达成共识。德尔菲过程允许利益相关者参与方法论研究。利益相关者参与研究非常耗时，需要付出更大的努力，但与更传统的仅限科学家参与的过程相比，可能会产生更好、更相关的结果。