Supplementary file 2_A systemic, multistakeholder participatory approach to research, innovation and action agenda setting for more integrated and effective prevention of HIV and other STIs: the case of Catalonia, Spain.docx

It involved a wide variety of participants (n = 687), including secondary school students (n = 660) and professionals (n = 27), i.e., researchers, healthcare professionals, civil society organization representatives, communicators and policymakers. Twenty focus groups were organized to identify (1) a broad range of systemic elements of the problem (i.e., needs and barriers) and (2) solutions (i.e., R&I topics and actions) for the prevention of HIV and other STIs, and a dialog meeting took place to validate the final agenda.</p>Results<p>The participants identified a wide range of needs, barriers and solutions covering multiple relevant R&I topics and actions in relation to prevention strategies, healthcare access, community-based activities and policy development.

The results were compiled in a final agenda structured around eight missions. Two were related to health services and products: “access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and services” and “development of biomedical tools for prevention and diagnosis.” Others were related to systemic elements such as “assessment of stakeholders’ needs and interventions,” “resources for R&I, prevention, interventions and health inequalities” and “governance, regulation and human rights.”</p>Discussion<p>Using the SDM phases exploration, consultation and integration, we generated a shared agenda for prevention of HIV and other STIs, covering multiple areas with key systemic elements within (underserved) R&I topics and actions.

To guarantee subsequent implementation of the resulting agenda with sustained participatory, systems approaches, we recommend implementing the next phases of the SDM with participatory research with specific attention for governance, accountability and funding constraints. This may require mixed-methods research involving the stakeholders that may already agree on the ownership of the missions and taking into account key quantitative studies on benchmarks, realistic implementation pathways and opportunity costs.</p>