Participatory policy analysis in health policy and systems research: reflections from a study in Nepal.

"Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participateEthical approval was granted by the Nepal Health Research Council (reg. no. 354/2020P), and University of Sheffield Research Ethics Committee (ref. AEA627). Permission to conduct the workshops was also obtained from the relevant provincial and local governments. The objectives of the broader study, PPA workshops and its modalities were clearly explained to all gatekeepers first. We requested the gatekeepers to share the details and participant information sheet with participants they identified for the workshop. Where the researcher could make direct contact with the participant, verbal and written information on the workshops were provided. On the day of, and before the formal start of, each workshop, participants were provided verbal and written information about the nature and purpose of the workshops and made aware that they had the right to not participate in the workshop or in any activities should they choose not to. All participants provided written informed consent prior to taking part in the workshops. To protect anonymity, and in light of the possible “controversial” issues that could arise and ensure that participants’ engagement in the workshops were not compromised, we did not (audio or video) record the workshops, but instead took detailed anonymized notes. Competing interestsThe author(s) declare that they have no competing interests. Competing interests The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests."

"Funding This work was supported by the Medical Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, and Wellcome Trust under the Health System Research Initiative Round 6 (Grant Ref. MR/T023554/1)."