title: Conducting multinational, cross-cultural research in the functional gastrointestinal disorders: issues and recommendations. A Rome Foundation working team report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cross-cultural, multinational research can advance the field of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). Cross-cultural comparative research can make a significant contribution in areas such as epidemiology, genetics, psychosocial modulators, symptom reporting and interpretation, extra-intestinal co-morbidity, diagnosis and treatment, determinants of disease severity, health care utilisation, and health-related quality of life, all issues that can be affected by geographical region, culture, ethnicity and race.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify methodological challenges for cross-cultural, multinational research, and suggest possible solutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This report, which summarises the full report of a working team established by the Rome Foundation that is available on the Internet, reflects an effort by an international committee of FGID clinicians and researchers. It is based on comprehensive literature reviews and expert opinion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cross-cultural, multinational research is important and feasible, but has barriers to successful implementation. This report contains recommendations for future research relating to study design, subject recruitment, availability of appropriate study instruments, translation and validation of study instruments, documenting confounders, statistical analyses and reporting of results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advances in study design and methodology, as well as cross-cultural research competence, have not matched technological advancements. The development of multinational research networks and cross-cultural research collaboration is still in its early stages. This report is intended to be aspirational rather than prescriptive, so we present recommendations, not guidelines. We aim to raise awareness of these issues and to pose higher standards, but not to discourage investigators from doing what is feasible in any particular setting.
authors.affiliation: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Sperber
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gwee
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hungin
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corazziari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukudo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerson
authors.forename: U C
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Ghoshal
authors.forename: J-Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmulson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dumitrascu
authors.forename: M-J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gerson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: S-J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Myung
authors.forename: E M M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Whorwell
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zarzar
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Whitehead
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005582:Foundations / Q000592:standards*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D011788:Quality of Life; D058028:Research Report / Q000592:standards*; D012384:Rome