Perceptions Regarding Interdisciplinary Collaboration of Graduate Students in Health-Related Graduate Programs

This study assessed the perceptions of interdisciplinary team collaboration in a health care setting as reported by graduate students in health-related programs at the University of Cincinnati. Bronstein’s (2002) model of interdisciplinary collaboration guided this study, through which five domains of interdisciplinary team collaboration were explored: interdependence, newly created professional activities, flexibility, collective ownership of goals, and reflection on the process. A qualitative, exploratory design was implemented using a semi-structured interview guide to test this model. Students were recruited from four colleges including the College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Pharmacy, and the College of Allied Health Sciences. A total of seven disciplines were targeted: medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, nutritional science, social work, and speech and communication disorders. Eight students responded to recruitment (i.e., two each from medicine, physical therapy, nutritional science, and social work), fit criteria eligibility requirements, and were interviewed. All study participants were female, with no prior experience working in their current field of study. Interviews were assessed using inductive reasoning (Thomas, 2006), and data were examined for themes first within domains, and then across domains. Six major themes emerged illustrating graduate student perceptions of interdisciplinary team collaboration in a health care setting: gaps in pre-professional education on health care teams, limited understanding of team roles, influence of personality vs. profession on teamwork, novice vs. professional work status, properties of the work environment, and patient-centered care. While findings highlight persisting gaps around interdisciplinary team collaboration, this study provides a starting point for understanding students’ educational needs to strengthen U.S. health care training programs.

Name thesis:degree_name

MPH

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Medicine: Public Health - Leadership, Management and Policy

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Cincinnati

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Baird, Kelly R.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Mase, William

• Public Health
• interdisciplinary collaboration
• teamwork
• health care
• education
• perceptions

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1353950577

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:ucin1353950577