A community-based case study of the co-construction of an online intervention with gay and bisexual men who use substances

ABSTRACT Collaboration between academic researchers and community members is a cornerstone of community-based research. The success of a project’s results depends on this collaboration. Currently collaborative practices are mostly documented from the researchers’ perspective. Based on a case study of the development of the MyBuzz.ca online intervention for gay and bisexual men who use substances, this article aims to describe components associated with the co-construction process to identify practices that have enabled stronger collaborations with community stakeholders and led to their increased involvement in research. A thematic analysis of eight semi-structured interviews was conducted to identify participants’ perceptions of their participation, their roles, and decision-making with respect to the development of the brief online intervention. Results highlight the importance of establishing prerequisites to foster a positive co-construction experience. Working on an issue that affects the community was one of the elements that encouraged participation in this project. The perspectives of stakeholders (other than academic researchers) support the importance of prerequisites and working on issues affecting the community in successfully conducting community-based research. This study also provides an opportunity to model these elements to foster the co-construction process in community-based research. It highlights facilitators and obstacles to co-construction while underscoring the benefits for various members of the community to participate in this type of study.