Challenges and opportunities in designing and executing cross-country studies in resilient healthcare

This chapter shares lessons learned from a six-year cross-country study of adaptive capacity in hospital teams in five countries. We elaborate on challenges and opportunities encountered and discuss how these can be used for informing and improving future cross-country research programs within resilience studies and with wider application. Cross-country research with limited funding was possible due to strong commitment, trust, and flexibility, and ensuring there was an effective structure and leadership within the team. Key lessons learned are to anchor research collaboratives in strong existing professional relations, to build a team with a psychologically safe atmosphere, to acknowledge and respect cultural diversity, to use existing collaborative mechanisms such as conferences and network arenas to interact in person, and to establish a routine for frequent digital meetings.