Characterizing the One Health Workforce to Promote Interdisciplinary, Multisectoral Approaches in Global Health Problem-solving

"Competencies in interpersonal communication are highly valued in One Health, especially because experts with diverse backgrounds often work collaboratively in a transdisciplinary team."

In recognition of the interconnected nature of complex challenges such as COVID-19, an integrated, unifying approach referred to as One Health has been employed to address sustainable development and strengthen global health security. Significant investments have been made to build global health capacity. However, because One Health is not an occupation but is, rather, a multidisciplinary approach to health problem-solving, characterising the One Health workforce is complex. This study shares the results of a multinational survey across multiple disciplines and sectors relevant to health that sought to build foundational knowledge of the One Health workforce.

To date, One Health has developed and gained support mainly in its application for addressing zoonoses. However, One Health has come to encompass a broader range of topics, such as antimicrobial resistance. One Health workers can also understand the drivers of complex issues and implement effective interventions in other disciplines, such as information technology (IT) and social and behavioural sciences. Per the researchers, using a clear and consistent definition that can apply to a broad range of challenges is important to better understand the value of One Health. They endorse the following working definition used by the United States federal agencies: One Health is defined as "a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach - working at the local, regional, national, and global levels - with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment."

Using a multinational online survey distributed from November 16 2018 to February 1 2019, the researchers collected and analysed perspectives from students, graduates, workers, and employers involved in interdisciplinary work involving human, animal, plant, and/or environmental health. Respondents were recruited through professional networks. A total of 828 respondents from 66 countries participated; 57% were female, and 56% had completed professional health degrees.

The same top two competencies were used most frequently by graduates and most valued by graduates, workers, and employers:

• Interpersonal communication and communication with scientific or non-scientific audiences; and
• Ability to build, work in, and manage a transdisciplinary team, including addressing conflicts. As an example, one worker identified "developing multidisciplinary partnerships, (and) developing goals and objectives that appeal to a multidisciplinary group" as the type of training they would have liked to have had that would benefit them in conducting their current work.

Employers indicated difficulty recruiting workers, while workers indicated limited availability of positions. Employers identified limited funding and ill-defined career pathways as prominent challenges for retaining One Health workers. Per the researchers, a clear outline of what employers can expect in employing a One Health worker is required. They assert that employers can expect that a One Health workers will have the ability to: (i) demonstrate and exercise a One Health approach to solve complex challenges related to health and sustainable development, regardless of the sector or discipline with which the worker is affiliated; (ii) take leadership and proactively seek opportunities to work across disciplines and organisations, recognising the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration; and (iii) build, work in, and/or lead a collaborative team, and contribute disciplinary expertise in the collaborative team.

To help build a stronger workforce, the researchers recommend: (i) aligning the definition of One Health to improve the matching of job seekers and employers; (ii) encouraging the employment of the One Health approach for a diverse range of positions, even if they do not explicitly include 'One Health' in the job title, and (iii) clarifying the expectations, roles and responsibilities within a transdisciplinary team.

In conclusion: "As One Health has evolved to address food insecurity, emerging diseases, and antimicrobial resistance, it holds promise for supporting an interdisciplinary global health workforce that can make substantial progress on Sustainable Development Goals and improve global health security for all."