Sharing of lessons learned from multisite research.
OBJECTIVE
To highlight key considerations for planning and implementing multisite research based on experiences and reflections in conducting a large, international, multisite study.


METHODS
Successes and challenges encountered throughout a multisite study process, and collective recommendations for future researchers are presented. Considerations addressed include creation of the research team and a "community of practice," study preparation and management time, approval by institutional review boards, training of future researchers, recruitment and retention of participants, and dissemination and translation of study materials to consumers.
Multisite research has the potential to create knowledge for pediatric physical therapy through collaboration among knowledgeable researchers and expert practitioners and by increasing the potential for generalization of findings. Effective planning, including anticipation of challenges, is critical to a successful study. Our collective experiences may assist practitioners and researchers in planning, implementing, and completing future multisite studies.
Department of Physical Therapy, Mercer University, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. fiss_al@mercer.edu
Alyssa LaForme
AL
Fiss
Sarah Westcott
SW
McCoy
Doreen J
DJ
Bartlett
Lisa Ann
LA
Chiarello
Robert J
RJ
Palisano
Barbara
B
Stoskopf
Lynn
L
Jeffries
Allison
A
Yocum
Audrey
A
Wood
D028744:Ethics Committees, Research; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012108:Research Personnel