Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Factors related to the international research collaboration in the health area: A qualitative study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Roya Moradi
. Ali Zargham‑Boroujeni 1
. Mohammad Reza Soleymani 2

1 Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Health Information Technology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract
BACKGROUND: International research collaboration (IRC) is known as one of the important indicators
of productivity, efficiency, and validity of universities in the world. In other words, IRC is necessary
for the scientific trade‑off between researchers in international scientific societies. The study aimed
to address the experiences of an academic researcher about factors related to IRC.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted using a qualitative approach
and conventional content analysis method. The participants consisted of 19 experienced faculty
members and researchers from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, who were selected based
on the purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data were collected through semi‑structured
interviews and were analyzed using the content analysis technique. Guba and Lincoln’s evaluative
criteria, including credibility, confirmability, dependability, and transferability, were applied to evaluate
the trustworthiness of the study.
RESULTS: According to the research findings, factors of “personal skills,” “personality,” “professional
position,” and “scientific activities” under the category of personal factors; “rules and regulations”
and “equipment and facilities” under the organizational factors; and “domestic policies” and “foreign
policies” were identified under the government factors category.
CONCLUSION: Research collaborations are influenced by individual, intra‑academic, and
extra‑academic factors; thus, research policymakers can help further to enhance the quantity and
quality of scientific output and promote the university’s placing in international rankings through
providing conditions that enable international interactions.

Keywords

International research collaboration
international scientific collaboration
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
researcher
scientific production
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 10, Issue 10
October 2020
Pages 1-8

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