Session: Transdisciplinary Science in Oncology Social Work (Society for Social Work and Research 30th Annual Conference Anniversary)

Oncology social workers are the largest group of supportive care professionals for individuals living with cancer, making up more than half of the psychosocial oncology workforce. Psychosocial care is defined as the care that addresses the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of cancer and its treatment. Fifty years of evidence demonstrate that psychosocial/social work interventions contribute to enhanced outcomes for cancer patients and their families, including enhanced access and adherence to therapy, quality of life, and survival. Emerging transdisciplinary efforts in oncology care and research offer opportunities to further the delivery of high-quality cancer care that is evidence-based, cost-effective, and equitable. Oncology social workers play a critical and essential role in assessing and addressing social determinants of health and responding to patient and family social needs. To date, evaluations of social determinants of health and social needs have not been well-integrated into studies examining health outcomes for cancer patients, including clinical trials. Transdisciplinary approaches to scientific research that uncover the interactive effects of social and psychological factors and biological mechanisms hold promise for advancing cancer care and improving outcomes. Transdisciplinary science is an approach to research and problem-solving that integrates knowledge from various disciplines to tackle complex real-world issues in a holistic and collaborative manner. Unlike multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary approaches, which typically operate within the confines of established and siloed disciplines, transdisciplinary science transcends those boundaries to co-create new frameworks, understandings, and solutions. The goal of this symposium is to showcase three psychosocial research studies in the context of cancer and discuss their implications for advancing transdisciplinary efforts in cancer care and research. The first presentation is an epidemiological cohort study that evaluates the long-term mental health trend among individuals who are survivors of cancer. The second presentation interrogates the differential impact of financial toxicity on mental health outcomes across different age cohorts of cancer patients. The third presentation demonstrates the direct influence of mental health trends on cancer survivors' physical health trajectories (measured by self-rated health). Collectively, these three presentations emphasize the influences of social determinants of health on mental and physical health outcomes for individuals affected by cancer. Following the presentation of the three studies, our symposium discussant will examine these works through a transdisciplinary lens by highlighting their relevance across multiple disciplines, including medicine, social work, public health, and epidemiology, and then facilitate a discussion about the critical leadership role that social workers can play in the advancement and integration of cancer research studies that assess and integrate physical, psychological, and social factors. To date, we see a bifurcation of clinical medicine and psychosocial care in cancer and argue that a more integrated approach to clinical research and the development of theoretical models that better integrate psychological, social, and medical conditions holds promise for advancing quality care and health equity.