Table 7 Challenges regarding Patient and Stakeholder Engagement (PSE) in the research process

Challenges related to stakeholders

▪ Physical disabilities and communication disorders of patients (aphasia)

▪ Fear of not being able to participate actively and being ineffective as a researcher

▪ Feeling unable to balance their clinical responsibilities and duties in the research process

Sims et al. [32]

Arnold et al. [28]

Challenges related to researchers

▪ Insufficient knowledge about how to engage stakeholders

▪ Lack of enough time

▪ Inadequate simplification and accessibility of stakeholder engagement in the research process

Sims et al. [32]

Brown et al. [13]

Arnold et al. [28]

Challenges related to the research process

▪ The limitation of published studies that have experienced the engagement of stakeholders

▪ Time-consuming and costly and limited resources for the engagement of stakeholders

▪ Difference of opinions of researchers and stakeholders in the process of data analysis

▪ Communication challenges between researchers and stakeholders (such as power relations)

▪ Selection of the research topic

▪ Determination of the level and stages of engagement

▪ Organizational rules

▪ Multiplicity of stakeholders

Sims et al. [32]

Gesell et al. [3]

Arnold et al. [28]