K. Sophisuda wrote that since she is new to the job, her answer is based on what she learns from her colleagues and office records. ECHO project is a study of acute HIV infections in MSMs and TGs in Pattaya. For formative research activities, the research team worked with stakeholders from the beginning. The work included consultations with stakeholders to get inputs and suggestions about the planned study as well as providing updated information to the stakeholders. This is repeated every year. ECHO team also informally and formally reviews stakeholders annually. All activities are documented accordingly.
ECHO center has a CAB, called Retro CAB, which consists of representatives of various societal sectors. The Retro CAB advises the research team on implementation of the study. The Retro CAB operates according to GPP, it has a chapter that is regularly reviewed. It meets every 2 months to review and comment on issues that the research team proposes. Furthermore, the bimonthly meeting is a regular opportunity to provide update information to the research team as well as receiving up-to-date information about HIV research from researchers. There is also an annual capacity building meeting for the Retro CAB.
In summary, formative research activities and stakeholder engagement activities do not occur only at the beginning for a study. Engagement activities are on-going during the implementation and the results are used to update and to further develop the study. These activities are considered vital and thus included in every annual plans of the community engagement (CE) team.
