title: Is it worth engaging in multi-stakeholder health services research collaborations? Reflections on key benefits, challenges and enabling mechanisms.
abstract: Multi-Stakeholder Health Services Research Collaborations (M-SHSRCs) are increasingly pursued internationally to undertake complex implementation research that aims to directly improve the organisation and delivery of health care. Yet the empirical evidence supporting M-SHSRCs' capacity to achieve such goals is limited, and significant impediments to effective implementation are identified in the literature. This dichotomy raises the question, 'is it worth engaging in M-SHSRCs?' In this paper, we contribute to the narrative evidence-base by outlining key issues emerging from our substantial collaborative experience in Australia. Key benefits, challenges and mechanisms that may enable effective implementation of M-SHSRCs in other contexts are highlighted. We conclude that M-SHSRCs are worthwhile and succeed through significant financial, temporal and emotional investments.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. r.hinchcliff@unsw.edu.au.
authors: Reece
authors: R
authors: Hinchcliff
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Greenfield
authors: Jeffrey
authors: J
authors: Braithwaite
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: certification/accreditation of hospitals; external quality assessment; health system reform; implementation research; knowledge translation; quality improvement