Table 1 The six overarching themes identified in the prior systematic review¹⁷

Organisational arrangements

The structured and coordinated arrangements within an entity, including researchers, governmental entities, or communities, that aim to facilitate, support, shape, and regulate interactions with different stakeholders. These can encompass roles, collaboration activities and processes, and communication strategies

Structured systems

The physical and conceptual frameworks that mould the connections and relationships among stakeholders. These can entail the design of meeting spaces, allocation of resources, communication channels, and processes that affect how public involvement and participation activities are conducted.

Social capital

The collective value emanated from relationships within a social structure. It entails trust, principles, and tenets embedded in social exchanges. Social capital is deemed as intangible resource promoting cooperation and improving community resilience.

Interrelationships

The dynamic and causal interactions within a system and among different stakeholders participating in the process. Understanding interrelationships provide insights into how factors within the system affect each other to achieve an outcome.

Perceptions

The perspectives of all participants. They are subjective attitudes, beliefs, and viewpoints that might affect the level of trust and understanding. It is crucial to recognise, consider, and respond to the plurality of perspectives by diverse stakeholders to create and foster mutual understanding and collaboration.

Context

The circumstance or condition surrounding a specific phenomenon. Understanding context is important for analysing and generalising research insights precisely. This often encompasses exploring the wider socio-economic, cultural, historical, or institutional backgrounds that might affect or mould the study subject.