Co-creating scholarship through collaborative writing in health professions education: AMEE Guide No. 143

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Scholarly Communication

Background:

• Collaborative writing is crucial for scholarly output in health professions education.
• Existing guidance often focuses on individual writing skills, neglecting team dynamics.
• There's a need for practical strategies on joining, contributing to, and leading writing groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a framework and strategies for health professions educators to enhance collaborative writing.
• To guide educators in navigating the complexities of writing teams, from initiation to completion.
• To address challenges in translating individual ideas into a cohesive scholarly product.

Main Methods:

• The guide reflects on principles of team writing and team behaviors.
• It suggests explicit strategies for overcoming common challenges in collaborative writing.
• The approach considers the individual writer, the writing team, and the scholarly product.

Main Results:

• Identifies the value of collaborative writing groups in advancing health professions education.
• Offers principles for effective team writing and behavior.
• Provides strategies to overcome challenges in starting, maintaining, and completing writing tasks.

Conclusions:

• Successful collaborative writing requires more than individual skills; it necessitates teamwork, leadership, and negotiation.
• This guide equips educators with tools to contribute meaningfully to scholarly work through effective collaboration.
• The ultimate goal is to foster significant contributions to the field of Health Professions Education.