Leveraging research steering committees for stakeholder engagement: a multifaceted strategy in Brazilian implementation projects.

Introduction: Research steering committees (RSCs) are increasingly recognized as a strategy for stakeholder engagement. Drawing on the experiences of participants from three RSCs involved in health care implementation projects in Brazil, this study aims to examine the contributions of RSCs to implementation research based on their impact on implementation outcomes.

Methods: This descriptive, exploratory, qualitative study was conducted between August and December 2024. Shared appreciation groups with eight researchers facilitated consensus on RSC operationalization. Additionally, semistructured interviews with 12 RSC members from three research projects explored the contributions to stakeholder engagement and implementation outcomes. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis.

Results: Thirteen discrete implementation strategies were identified within four categories: use evaluative and iterative strategies, adapt and tailor to context, develop stakeholder interrelationships, and train and educate stakeholders. The RSCs influenced six implementation outcomes: acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, feasibility, penetration, and sustainability. Appropriateness and feasibility emerged as the most prominent outcomes.

Conclusion: Research steering committees constitute a multifaceted implementation strategy that fosters structured stakeholder engagement. By integrating multiple implementation strategies, they enhance collaboration, contextual adaptation, and shared governance. Their impact on appropriateness and feasibility highlights their relevance as a support mechanism for implementation success and sustainability.