Protocol for the first cycle of the Collaborative Open Research Initiative Study (CORIS-1): An international survey of personnel in health professions schools in 16 countries

The Collaborative Open Research Initiative Study (CORIS) is an inclusive and innovative international research project that welcomes 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. In this protocol, we describe the aims and approach of CORIS, which is designed as an annual cross-sectional, web-based survey that seeks to explore critical topics in health professions education. The target population comprises faculty and staff in accredited, degree-granting medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy, and public health schools at undergraduate and postgraduate levels across 16 countries (n=14400). Collaborators within CORIS will actively engage in survey design, question formulation, and the entire research process. 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 early-stage researchers to engage in the research process from start to finish and to obtain publications. Contributors must meet ICMJE authorship criteria. Collaborators can also explore the collected data for their independent projects. 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.