Job Burnout in Medical Social Workers: A Moderated Mediation Analysis of Interprofessional Collaboration, Job Satisfaction, and Service Quality Perception.

Abstract

This study examines how interprofessional collaboration (IPC) affects burnout among medical social workers, with job satisfaction (JS) and service quality perception (SQP) as mediating and moderating factors. Despite the critical role of medical social workers in healthcare teams, research on how IPC influences their well-being remains limited, particularly in non-Western contexts. Using data from 261 Chinese medical social workers collected through the China Social Work Longitudinal Study, this research investigates relationships between communication with medical staff, JS, SQP, and burnout. Findings demonstrate that medical social workers report significantly higher collaboration levels with nurses compared with doctors, though both forms of communication substantially impact JS and burnout. Mediation analysis revealed that IPC exerts indirect effects on burnout through JS pathways, with this relationship operating for both doctor and nurse communication. Furthermore, SQP emerged as a significant moderator, with the protective effect of JS against burnout being stronger among practitioners with higher SQP. These results underscore how effective IPC enhances JS and reduces burnout, with professional self-efficacy playing a crucial buffering role. Findings contribute to a global understanding of factors affecting medical social workers' well-being and effectiveness in healthcare settings, while highlighting the importance of fostering collaborative interprofessional environments.