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

Author

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  • 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
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    References listed on IDEAS

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