Table 2

Stakeholders and participants in visits 1–8, FGs and interviews

Event and purpose	Participant info	Findings
Visit 1: kick-off meeting	Stakeholders	Interest in receiving layperson-friendly information about the study processes. Stakeholders wished to make their voices heard. Networking with new contacts and additional information on project design
Visit 2: co-creation workshop 1—qualitative research methods	Stakeholders	Information regarding the technical requirements should be gathered. Data should be collected about the duration and timing of training sessions. More details on the assigned roles were requested by the stakeholders.
Visit 3: co-creation workshop 2—data collection and analysis	Stakeholders	Engagement in learning about thematic analysis in qualitative research. Stakeholders reported feeling highly involved. Researchers learnt adopting their language to the needs of pwMS.
FG and interviews stage 1 Gather insights for developing a music-supported exercise programme for pwMS	Peer-to-peer interviews RZM: 3 FG, 10 interviews MUW: 2 FG, 9 interviews	The programme should include exercises specifically for wheelchair users. Music enhances pwMS’ motivation to engage in home exercise programmes. Music was suggested both as a rhythm provider and for background Five exercise categories with three levels of difficulty in various positions: balance and coordination, strength and endurance, fine motor skills, flexibility, relaxation and breathing and dance including mobility.
Visit 4: co-creation workshop 3—exercise development	Stakeholders	A broad range of motor activities was suggested to address mild to severe disability levels due to MS. Stakeholders expressed strong satisfaction with the project.
Visit 5: music co-selection meeting	Stakeholders	PwMS suggested including various rhythmic options with both slower and faster alternatives.
FG and interviews stage 2 Evaluate and refine music-supported video samples based on feedback from co-workshops and initial interviews	Peer-to-peer interviews RZM: 3 FG, 6 interviews MUW: 2 FG, 4 interviews	PwMS expressed a wish to exercise at home guided by exercise and dance-exercise videos, presented in a non-clinical environment. Safety instructions and other key aspects should be integrated in the programme. Everyday objects were preferred over conventional therapy material or devices, for example, water bottles instead of dumbbells.
Visit 6: co-creation workshop 4—findings co-dissemination (article and poster co-writing/co-presentation, radio station co-report)	Stakeholders	Two articles* for patient magazines and one for social media† were co-written. Two posters were co-created and co-presented at conferences‡. Stakeholders engaged in presenting results and exchanged views with attendees at conferences‡. Stakeholders were involved in the preparation of a youth culture radio station report§.
Visit 7: final video recording	Stakeholders	Stakeholders served in the capacity of interviewers for both the informational videos and the dance component of the exercise programme. Stakeholders rated the experience both enjoyable and rewarding.
FGs and interviews stage 3 Gather general feedback on initial exercise videos to refine them for final recording	Peer-to-peer interviews RZM: 1 FG, 6 interviews MUW: 1 FG, 3 interview	Accessibility of the videos could be improved for pwMS with visual or hearing impairments. Family members supported the process and provided feedback to the researchers. Stakeholders had a significant impact on the outcomes of this project. Stakeholders reported feeling highly involved.
Visit 8: closing event	Stakeholders	The music supported video programme was presented as part of World MS Day in Tirol and at a separately organised event in Vienna. Co-dissemination and co-presenting the results allowed the stakeholders for meaningful exchanges with their community.

Visit 1: hybrid meeting (online and in-person) at both study sites, with direct presentation; vsit 2–visit 7: combination of lectures and group discussions; visit 8: in-person closing event, free of charge and open to the public, including refreshments and lectures on MS-related topics, co-organised with MS support groups in Tyrol, Austria, and Caritas Socialis MS Day Care Centre; assessments in visit 1–visit 7: participation check including Semantic Differential, Unidimensional Self-Efficacy Scale for Multiple Sclerosis, Self-Assessment Manikin, with the Patient and Public Involvement Assessment Survey being conducted only at visit 8.
*Two articles in the patient magazine by the Austrian MS Society, Neue Horizonte.
†Contribution to the World MS Day 2023 via the homepage of the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform.
‡OIS-ZAM meeting in Linz (Austria) and Vienna (Austria), organised by the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft, Open Innovation in Science Centre.
§Report by a youth culture radio station of the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation with interviews of the research team.
FG, focus groups; MS, multiple sclerosis; MUW, Medical University of Vienna; pwMS, people with multiple sclerosis; RZM, Clinic for Rehabilitation Muenster.