Guideline for Excellence in Collaborative Multidisciplinary Research: Principles, Strategies, and Best Practices: The Saudi Society for Multidisciplinary Research Education and Development (SCAPE Society)
Ohoud Aljuhani, Aisha Alharbi, Mai Alalawi, Samiah Alsohimi, Mashael Alfaifi, Raghad Alhajaji, Asma A. Alshehri, Hatoun Labban, Abeer A. Alenazi, Abdullah F. Alharthi, Fatimah Abudayah, Haifa F. AlOtaibi, Khalid Al SulaimanBackground:
Research is essential for advancing healthcare but increasingly depends on multidisciplinary collaboration approach to address complex challenges.
Aims and Objectives:
This guideline aims to provide a standardized framework for equitable multidisciplinary collaboration while improving research quality and impact through inclusive processes and measurable outcomes.
Materials and Methods:
The guideline was developed through a structured, consensus-based process involving a multidisciplinary expert panel and a systematic literature review conducted between March and April 2025. Consensus on evidence-based recommendations was achieved using the Delphi method, supported by voting, predefined thresholds, expert reviewers, and standardized evidence appraisal tools.
Results:
Key recommendations address clear objective setting, effective communication, collaborative culture development, appropriate resource allocation, strong leadership, constructive conflict management, multidisciplinary integration, ethical conduct, knowledge translation, and systematic evaluation. Implementation of these guidelines is projected to improve project success rates by 67% and increase research impact by 50%. The framework has been utilized and validated through the SCAPE platform, which has successfully facilitated over 120 collaborative projects engaging more than 1,500 researchers from various specialties and disciplines.
Conclusion:
These guidelines provide a robust, evidence-based framework to strengthen multidisciplinary research collaboration and enhance its quality, efficiency, and impact. Their implementation has the potential to drive sustainable research practices and advance healthcare outcomes at both national and global levels.