Influences on collaborative activities among psychologists and pediatricians: implications for practice, training,...

Addresses the need for a comprehensive framework that describes the broad range of professional interactions between psychologists and pediatricians, presents a generic model of influences or collaboration and proposes specific implications for training, practice, and research. Three primary influences on the development of collaborative activities are proposed: (a) participants' beliefs about the need for and expectations of the potential outcomes of collaboration; (b) participants' knowledge, skills, and prior experiences, especially in collaborative work; and (c) setting-based barriers and supports. Interventions that promote positive beliefs and expectations among colleagues concerning interdisciplinary work, facilitate specific skills related to cooperative research and management of clinical problems, and develop new practice settings should enhance collaboration.