Date of Conferral

4-7-2025

Date of Award

April 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Social Work

Advisor

Kristen Richards

Abstract

Social work is a complex field, with the roles and responsibilities of social workers often unclear. This ambiguity can lead to low self-efficacy and hinder effective collaboration with other disciplines, which can negatively impact patient care. The purpose of this quantitative study is to explore the relationship between the occupational self-efficacy of medical social workers, level of experience and social workers’ perceptions of interdisciplinary collaboration when managing patients with co-occurring chronic pain and opioid use disorder. The theoretical framework that guided this study is Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. The conceptual framework for this research is Bronstein’s model of interdisciplinary collaboration. The Occupational Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form and Index of Interdisciplinary Collaboration were used to collect data from medical social workers with experience on interdisciplinary teams in acute care settings. A multiple regression analysis was used to examine the extent to which occupational self-efficacy and level of experience of medical social workers predict perceptions of interdisciplinary collaboration. Findings indicated that social workers with high levels of occupational self-efficacy also have positive perceptions of interdisciplinary collaboration. This study was significant in that positive attitudes towards social workers and understanding of their contributions impacts social workers’ beliefs in their capabilities to interact effectively with other disciplines. This study may contribute to positive social change by addressing barriers that hinder effective collaboration; thus, improving the lives of patients through well-functioning interdisciplinary teams that work together to resolve complex patient issues.

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