Collaborative Open Research Initiative Study (CORIS-1)

Introduction: The Collaborative Open Research Initiative Study (CORIS) embarks on an inclusive and innovative international research endeavor, welcoming contributors from across the globe. CORIS fosters a democratic and collaborative approach, shaping research actively and offering publication opportunities for newcomers in health professions education. We describe CORIS' aims and approach in this study. Methods: CORIS, a cross-sectional, web-based survey, seeks to explore critical topics in the field of health professions education. The target population comprises faculty and staff in accredited, degree-granting medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy, and public health schools at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels across 16 countries (n = 14,400). Collaborators can hail from any part of the world but are required to register at https://forms.gle/ZRiwwv3Vmq3y5dv19. Collaborators not only can actively engage in survey design, question formulation, and the entire research process from start to finish but also have the chance to get publications, which can enhance their professional careers. Importantly, there is no financial cost for collaborators at any stage of the study. Results: The first iteration, CORIS-1, scheduled for 2024, covers themes such as post-COVID-19 patient care, epidemic preparedness, burnout, artificial intelligence, remote learning, conflict's impact on mental health, substance use, and workplace discrimination. Data will be collected on the Chisquares™ survey platform, and results, codebook, questionnaire, and methods report will be publicly accessible. No sensitive data or identifying information will be collected. CORIS-1 fosters diversity by letting contributors suggest survey questions, aiming to provide novel data, identify gaps, and influence health education policies. It provides an opportunity for research newcomers to engage in the research process from start to finish, and to get publications. Contributors must meet ICMJE authorship criteria. Collaborators can also explore the collected data for their independent projects. Conclusion: CORIS redefines research, fostering open collaboration and meaningful contributions. Diverse perspectives and collaborators' contributions are expected to enhance the research process. Graduate students working on theses or dissertations can propose questions in CORIS-1, and early career professionals can also enroll as collaborators to gain a comprehensive understanding of the research process from start to finish.