Examining Variables Related to Successful Collaboration on the Hospice Team

Abstract

Although social work participation on interdisciplinary teams is long-standing, little research has been done to examine its effectiveness. This study used the Index of Interdisciplinary Collaboration to explore relationships between selected variables and teamwork in the hospice setting. The findings indicate that hospice social workers report a high level of interdisciplinary collaboration with colleagues. Whereas education, hospice census, the presence of other social workers, and quality of care were found to be unrelated to overall levels of collaboration, individual items measuring collaboration proved to be linked with hospice census, the presence of other social workers on the team, and quality of care. Further research is required to investigate other possible related variables and their impact on successful interdisciplinary collaboration and service delivery.