Interactive use of models of health-related behavior to promote interdisciplinary collaboration.

This pilot study examined the use of models of health-related behavior as foci for interaction to promote interdisciplinary collaboration among students enrolled in a graduate-level course at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. The course is one component of a master's program developed to meet the needs of health professionals whose goals are to participate in interdisciplinary roles in a variety of health care settings. Abilities requisite to the development of positive attitudes toward interdisciplinary collaboration include: (1) understanding of the functional roles of each discipline within the team; and (2) respect and value for each discipline's input in the decision-making process of the health team. Focused interaction was effective in increasing participants' understanding of the functional roles of each discipline at the .05 level of significance.