IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i17p10902-d903868.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Multi-, Inter-, and Transdisciplinarity within the Public Health Workforce: A Scoping Review to Assess Definitions and Applications of Concepts

Author

Listed:
  • Kerstin Sell

    (Institute of Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, LMU Munich, Elisabeth-Winterhalter-Weg 6, 81377 Munich, Germany
    Pettenkofer School of Public Health, 81377 Munich, Germany
    German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health (NÖG), 80539 Munich, Germany)

  • Franziska Hommes

    (German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health (NÖG), 80539 Munich, Germany)

  • Florian Fischer

    (German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health (NÖG), 80539 Munich, Germany
    Institute of Public Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
    Bavarian Research Center of Digital Health and Social Care, Kempten University of Applied Sciences, Albert-Einstein-Straße 6, 87437 Kempten, Germany)

  • Laura Arnold

    (German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health (NÖG), 80539 Munich, Germany
    Academy of Public Health Services, Kanzlerstraße 4, 40472 Duesseldorf, Germany
    Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute—CAPHRI, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6211 Maastricht, The Netherlands)

Abstract

In light of the current public health challenges, calls for more inter- and transdisciplinarity in the public health workforce are increasing, particularly to respond to complex and intersecting health challenges, such as those presented by the climate crisis, emerging infectious diseases, or military conflict. Although widely used, it is unclear how the concepts of multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinarity are applied with respect to the public health workforce. We conducted a scoping review and qualitative content analysis to provide an overview of how the concepts of multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinarity are defined and applied in the academic literature about the public health workforce. Of the 1957 records identified, 324 articles were included in the review. Of those, 193, 176, and 53 mentioned the concepts of multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinarity, respectively. Overall, 44 articles provided a definition. Whilst definitions of multidisciplinarity were scarce, definitions of inter- and transdisciplinarity were more common and richer, highlighting the aim of the collaboration and the blurring and dissolution of disciplinary boundaries. A better understanding of the application of multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinarity is an important step to implementing these concepts in practice, including in institutional structures, academic curricula, and approaches in tackling public health challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Kerstin Sell & Franziska Hommes & Florian Fischer & Laura Arnold, 2022. "Multi-, Inter-, and Transdisciplinarity within the Public Health Workforce: A Scoping Review to Assess Definitions and Applications of Concepts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-23, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:10902-:d:903868
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/17/10902/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/17/10902/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Begg, M.D. & Fried, L.P. & Glover, J.W. & Delva, M. & Wiggin, M. & Hooper, L. & Saxena, R. & De Pinho, H. & Slomin, E. & Walker, J.R. & Galea, S., 2015. "Columbia public health core curriculum: Short-term impact," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(12), pages 7-13.
    2. Rosenfield, Patricia L., 1992. "The potential of transdisciplinary research for sustaining and extending linkages between the health and social sciences," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 1343-1357, December.
    3. Jahn, Thomas & Bergmann, Matthias & Keil, Florian, 2012. "Transdisciplinarity: Between mainstreaming and marginalization," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1-10.
    4. Rory David Watts & Devin C. Bowles & Colleen Fisher & Ian W. Li, 2021. "What Do Public Health Graduates Do and Where Do They Go? An Analysis of Job Destinations and Mismatch in Australian Public Health Graduates," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-16, July.
    5. Katica Tripković & Milena Šantrić-Milićević & Milena Vasić & Mirjana Živković-Šulović & Marina Odalović & Vesna Mijatović-Jovanović & Zoran Bukumirić, 2021. "Factors Associated with Intention of Serbian Public Health Workers to Leave the Job: A Cross-Sectional, Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
    6. Josep Lloret & Rafael Abós-Herràndiz & Sílvia Alemany & Rosario Allué & Joan Bartra & Maria Basagaña & Elisa Berdalet & Mònica Campàs & Arnau Carreño & Montserrat Demestre & Jorge Diogène & Eva Fontde, 2020. "The Roses Ocean and Human Health Chair: A New Way to Engage the Public in Oceans and Human Health Challenges," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-19, July.
    7. Dunja Said & Simon Brinkwirth & Angelina Taylor & Robby Markwart & Tim Eckmanns, 2021. "The Containment Scouts: First Insights into an Initiative to Increase the Public Health Workforce for Contact Tracing during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-10, September.
    8. Arnout R. H. Fischer & Aarieke E. I. De Jong & Rob De Jonge & Lynn J. Frewer & Maarten J. Nauta, 2005. "Improving Food Safety in the Domestic Environment: The Need for a Transdisciplinary Approach," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(3), pages 503-517, June.
    9. Kothari, Anita & Wathen, C. Nadine, 2013. "A critical second look at integrated knowledge translation," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(2), pages 187-191.
    10. Katarzyna Czabanowska & Ellen Kuhlmann, 2021. "Public health competences through the lens of the COVID‐19 pandemic: what matters for health workforce preparedness for global health emergencies," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(S1), pages 14-19, May.
    11. Thompson, Mary Anne & Owen, Susan & Lindsay, Jan M. & Leonard, Graham S. & Cronin, Shane J., 2017. "Scientist and stakeholder perspectives of transdisciplinary research: Early attitudes, expectations, and tensions," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 30-39.
    12. Sabine Maasen & Olivier Lieven, 2006. "Transdisciplinarity: a new mode of governing science?," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 33(6), pages 399-410, July.
    13. Pickett, Kate E. & Wilkinson, Richard G., 2015. "Income inequality and health: A causal review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 316-326.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Laura Arnold & Lisa Kellermann & Florian Fischer & Sophie Gepp & Franziska Hommes & Laura Jung & Amir Mohsenpour & Dagmar Starke & Jan M. Stratil, 2022. "What Factors Influence the Interest in Working in the Public Health Service in Germany? Part I of the OeGD-Studisurvey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-32, September.
    2. Jana Zscheischler & Sebastian Rogga & Maria Busse, 2017. "The Adoption and Implementation of Transdisciplinary Research in the Field of Land-Use Science—A Comparative Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-20, October.
    3. Jesse M. Engebretson & Zachary Piso & Michael O’Rourke & Troy E. Hall, 2024. "Consultative or participatory?: how environmental science graduate students envision transdisciplinarity," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 14(1), pages 193-201, March.
    4. Melissa Robson-Williams & Bruce Small & Roger Robson-Williams & Nick Kirk, 2021. "Handrails through the Swamp? A Pilot to Test the Integration and Implementation Science Framework in Complex Real-World Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-23, May.
    5. Zeug, Walther & Bezama, Alberto & Thrän, Daniela, 2020. "Towards a holistic and integrated Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of the bioeconomy: Background on concepts, visions and measurements," UFZ Discussion Papers 7/2020, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Division of Social Sciences (ÖKUS).
    6. Viola Hakkarainen & Katri Mäkinen‐Rostedt & Andra Horcea‐Milcu & Dalia D'Amato & Johanna Jämsä & Katriina Soini, 2022. "Transdisciplinary research in natural resources management: Towards an integrative and transformative use of co‐concepts," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(2), pages 309-325, April.
    7. Robert Axelsson & Magnus Ljung & Malgorzata Blicharska & Michael Frisk & Marianne Henningsson & Grzegorz Mikusiński & Lennart Folkeson & Görgen Göransson & Sofia Jönsson-Ekström & Anders Sjölund & Jan, 2020. "The Challenge of Transdisciplinary Research: A Case Study of Learning by Evaluation for Sustainable Transport Infrastructures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-24, August.
    8. Serna M., Edgar, 2015. "Maturity model of transdisciplinary knowledge management," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(6), pages 647-654.
    9. Win Thiri Kyaw & Masayuki Sakakibara, 2022. "Transdisciplinary Communities of Practice to Resolve Health Problems in Southeast Asian Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Communities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-17, April.
    10. Corrine Nöel Knapp & Robin S. Reid & María E. Fernández-Giménez & Julia A. Klein & Kathleen A. Galvin, 2019. "Placing Transdisciplinarity in Context: A Review of Approaches to Connect Scholars, Society and Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-25, September.
    11. Ana Guzmán Ruiz & Meredith Dobbie & Rebekah Brown, 2017. "Insights and future directions of transdisciplinary practice in the urban water sector," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 7(2), pages 251-263, June.
    12. Xue Cheng & Wei Pan & Qingpu Zhang, 2019. "Antecedents of Knowledge Interaction in the Sustainable Interdisciplinary Research Team: A Mixed Research Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-23, July.
    13. Marina Knickel & Karlheinz Knickel & Francesca Galli & Damian Maye & Johannes S. C. Wiskerke, 2019. "Towards a Reflexive Framework for Fostering Co—Learning and Improvement of Transdisciplinary Collaboration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-22, November.
    14. Lawton, Ricky N. & Rudd, Murray A., 2013. "Crossdisciplinary research contributions to the United Kingdom′s National Ecosystem Assessment," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 5(C), pages 149-159.
    15. Benedikt Fecher & Freia Kuper & Nataliia Sokolovska & Alex Fenton & Stefan Hornbostel & Gert G. Wagner, 2021. "Understanding the Societal Impact of the Social Sciences and Humanities: Remarks on Roles, Challenges, and Expectations," RatSWD Working Papers 276, German Data Forum (RatSWD).
    16. Siebenhüner, Bernd, 2018. "Conflicts in Transdisciplinary Research: Reviewing Literature and Analysing a Case of Climate Adaptation in Northwestern Germany," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 117-127.
    17. Stefan Liehr & Julia Röhrig & Marion Mehring & Thomas Kluge, 2017. "How the Social-Ecological Systems Concept Can Guide Transdisciplinary Research and Implementation: Addressing Water Challenges in Central Northern Namibia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-19, June.
    18. Jian Xu & Yi Bu & Ying Ding & Sinan Yang & Hongli Zhang & Chen Yu & Lin Sun, 2018. "Understanding the formation of interdisciplinary research from the perspective of keyword evolution: a case study on joint attention," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 117(2), pages 973-995, November.
    19. Oded Stark & Wiktor Budzinski, 2021. "A social‐psychological reconstruction of Amartya Sen’s measures of inequality and social welfare," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(4), pages 552-566, November.
    20. Xiaobao Li & Houchao Lyu, 2022. "Social Status and Subjective Well-Being in Chinese Adults: Mediating Effect of Future Time Perspective," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(4), pages 2101-2116, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:10902-:d:903868. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.