title: Inernational research in health care management: its need in the 21st century, methodological challenges, ethical issues, pitfalls, and practicalities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This commentary argues in favor of international research in the 21st century. Advances in technology, science, communication, transport, and infrastructure have transformed the world into a global village. Industries have increasingly adopted globalization strategies. Likewise, the health sector is more internationalized whereby comparisons between diverse health systems, international best practices, international benchmarking, cross-border health care, and cross-cultural issues have become important subjects in the health care literature. The focus has now turned to international, collaborative, cross-national, and cross-cultural research, which is by far more demanding than domestic studies. In this commentary, we explore the methodological challenges, ethical issues, pitfalls, and practicalities within international research and offer possible solutions to address them.
  
  
  METHODS
  The commentary synthesizes contributions from four scholars in the field of health care management, who came together during the annual meeting of the Academy of Management to discuss with members of the Health Care Management Division the challenges of international research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  International research is worth pursuing; however, it calls for scholarly attention to key methodological and ethical issues for its success.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This commentary addresses salient issues pertaining to international research in one comprehensive account.
authors.forename: Sandra C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Buttigieg
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rathert
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: D'Aunno
authors.forename: Grant T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Savage
mesh_terms: D003469:Culture; D006298:Health Services Administration / Q000941:ethics; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration