Research on Social Determinants of Health from a Transdisciplinary Perspective: Social Work and Nursing

Abstract:

Background and Purpose:

Evidence is clear and continues to mount that health is influenced by a myriad of factors, with biomedical clinical care accounting for about 20%, with the vast majority of factors comprised of social, economic, behavioral, environmental. Collectively, these factors are referred to as “social determinants of health.” To effectively address the comprehensive healthcare needs of individuals and communities, healthcare clinicians, educators, and researchers must embrace all the influences on health, including the social determinants and the biomedical. Social Work and Nursing are two healthcare professions/disciplines with the potential to collaborate in a way that addresses health from a transdisciplinary perspective that embraces a comprehensive approach to health and healthcare.

With a recent emphasis on inter-professional collaboration in healthcare, it is common to focus on physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and many others. While such collaborations make much sense, a close and in-depth collaboration between social work and nursing, which has not occurred traditionally in academic settings, can yield thoughtful, innovative approaches to healthcare, emphasizing social determinants of health. The purpose of this Roundtable is to share our collaborative experiences between social work and nursing at the School of Social Work at the University of Southern California (USC).

Methods:

USC School of Social Work has established a new Department of Nursing that will not only be located in the School of Social Work, but will be an integral part of the school, emphasizing transdisciplinary collaboration between social work and nursing faculty and students. We have already begun collaborative research in the area of family violence, healthy aging, homelessness, and transitional care (from hospital to community).

Results:

This roundtable session will facilitate discussion among participants on how to encourage such collaboration among other universities and agencies across the country. The roundtable will consist of two presenters: one is a member of the new Department of Nursing in the School of Social Work and the other is a member of the School of Social Work; both are professors who have conducted community-based participatory research, focused on social determinants of health. Together, we will present examples of research that include biomedical and social determinants, emphasizing the importance of such research in order to advance healthcare in the United States and globally. Each presenter will discuss examples of ongoing research that incorporate social determinants of health with biomedical aspects. The roundtable will then encourage questions and discussion among the participants.

Conclusions and Implications:

The ultimate goal of this roundtable is to encourage ongoing transdisciplinary research among social work and nursing for the purpose of improving the health of individuals and communities. The future of health and healthcare must incorporate a comprehensive understanding of health, embracing both the biomedical and social forces that influence health.