Multidisciplinary cross-national studies: a commentary on issues of collaboration, methodology, analysis, and publication.

Although multicenter studies proliferate in quantitative health and medical studies, few examples of similar multidisciplinary cross-national qualitative studies exist. In this article, the authors present a commentary on this type of study based on their involvement with two international projects. Issues include maintaining coinvestigators' participation in an international qualitative project with limited funding; difficulties in promoting collaboration in protocol development; factors inhibiting interest and enthusiasm; ethical concerns; issues of data recording, language, coding, and analysis; and implications for write-up and publication. Despite the difficulties and challenges posed at each stage of the process, the authors remain convinced of the value of these projects and provide recommendations for facilitating future multidisciplinary cross-national qualitative health projects.