1.In your own words, describe why stakeholders are an important part of the research process.
Biomedical HIV prevention trial research is a usually a contentious issue with polarized views held, on the one hand, by those who represent researcher, sponsor (stakeholder) and, on the other hand those who represent of participant and community stakeholders. Thus it is obvious that research into HIV/AIDS human research for sustainability should engage with representatives from across these stakeholders. Also, stakeholders are either directly or indirectly influenced by the planning, conduct and research findings.
2.To what extent does the research team you work with have an understanding of the value of stakeholder engagement? Explain your answer.
Each of the HV/AIDS prevention research trial at The Thai red cross AIDS research centre (TRC-ARC) understands the importance of stakeholder engagement. They all have established mechanisms for engagement – CABS are the primary means of community engagement. The TRC-ARC uses various community advisory mechanisms for its community engagement plan in accordance with the Good Participatory Practice (GPP) guidelines. These mechanisms include the TRC-ARC CAB, community forums and workshops, individual stakeholder meetings, focus group discussions, and informal continuous dialogue with stakeholders. The TRC-ARC research team, in consultation with its CAB members, identifies relevant community stakeholders for each study at The Thai Red Cross Anonymous Clinic. The TRC-ARC CAB was established in 2006 as a mechanism to support community participation in the HIV trial. It was originally comprised of invited representatives from non-governmental organizations and communities actively involved in or affected by HIV during its early epidemic in Bangkok. These organizations include the AIDS Access Foundation, the Foundation for AIDS Rights (FAR), the Thai NGO Coalition on AIDS (TNCA), the Thai Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (TNP+), the Thai AIDS Treatment Action Group (TTAG), 12D (a Harm Reduction NGO), Anjaree (a Lesbian NGO), We Understand Group (an NGO working with children and youth), Service Workers in Group (SWING, a male sex worker NGO), Empower Group (a female sex worker NGO), Wednesday’s Friends Club (a PLHIV peer educator group), Rainbow Sky Network (an MSM NGO), the Women’s Health Advocacy Foundation, the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, and representatives from selected geographical communities
